Joe B. Douglas

Joe Douglas, age 95, passed away on November 16, 2023 at The Waters in Princeton, Indiana. He was born December 17, 1927 in Princeton, Indiana to the late Floyd and Ida (Walter) Douglas. Joe joined the United States Army Air Corp in February 21, 1946. He was stationed Satoshi, Okada & Misawa on the Island of Hosaka of Occupied Japan, receiving both the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Japan Medal. He was honorably discharged December 4, 1948 from the United States Air Force at Camp Stoneman, California with the rank of Sergeant.

He re-enlisted in the United States Air Force June 1, 1955, and was stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington with 28th Field Maintenance Squadron (SAC). Requiring special security clearance, he was transferred to the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron as crew chief, working on F-86-D and F-102 Jets. His unit was awarded the Hughes Trophy and earned The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for high combat readiness for the period of 1953 through 1956 which entitled him to permanently wear the ribbon representing the award. August 1956 the squadron was selected as the best air defense unit in the Air Force and was awarded the Hughes Trophy. In addition, the squadron received its first Outstanding Unit Award for high combat readiness for the period of 1953 through 1956. Joe was honorably discharged February 24, 1959, at Ellsworth Air Fore Base, South Dakota with the rank of Airman 1st Class (Sergeant).

August 3, 1973 Joe married Janet Elliott Harbison in Nashville, Tennessee. Retiring in 1992 after 25 plus years at Potter & Brumfield, A Siemens Company, he & his wife moved to Pahrump, NV September 1993, returning to Princeton in March of 2002.

Completing grades 1 through 8 in school at Fort Branch, he earned his GED in 1984 at Gibson Southern High School.

Joe, a member of Bethel Memorial Church, was previously a member of First Baptist Church, Princeton & First Southern Baptist Church of Pahrump, Nevada. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, and two sons, Jon Lee Harbison (Teresa) and Jay Lance Harbison (Julie) of Princeton, IN; grandchildren, James Fritz III of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jessica Fritz of Ohio, Misty Sullivan (Kevin) of Union, IN, Jilaine Mason of Washington, IN, Cassandra Harbison of Ohio, Caitlin Haustetter of Ohio, Blake Harbison & Tyler Harbison of Ohio; great grandchildren, Ivy, Hunter and Kya Sullivan, Kendra, Jacob, Katelyn and Jiles Mason and Lillian Haustetter; brothers, David Douglas (Dorthy) of Patoka and Kenneth Douglas (Judy) of Princeton; and several nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gerald Douglas; nephew, Kenneth Douglas, Jr.; and grandson, Lance Allen Harbison.

A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Monday, November 20, 2023 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, IN. Burial will follow at Columbia White Church Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be on Monday at the funeral home from noon until the hour of service.

For those who wish, memorial contributions can be given to the Disabled American Veterans in Care of Gibson County Veterans Service Office  located at 225 North Hart St., Room 8, Princeton, IN 47670. Condolences may be offered online at www.ColvinFuneralHome.com. Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Douglas family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joe B. Douglas, please visit our floral store.