Obituary of Joseph Westbrook

Joe Westbrook passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at Beacon Place. A memorial service will be held at Friends Homes Guilford on Monday, June 18, at 2:00 PM, followed by interment in the columbarium at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. Joe is survived by his son, J. Ward Westbrook and wife, Ginny, of Seminole, Florida, Granddaughter Patricia Vincent-Myrick, husband Todd, and great granddaughter Sumner, of Sarasota, Florida. His wife of 66 years, Mary Council Westbrook, preceded him in death. Joe was born in Greensboro on March 31, 1916, to Lois Jennings Westbrook and Joseph Ward Westbrook, Sr. He is a 1933 graduate of Greensboro High School. He served as a bombardier in the U. S. Army Air Corps, European Theater, during WWII, and retired from the U. S. Air Force Reserves as Lieutenant Colonel. Following the war, Joe graduated from North Carolina State College in Raleigh with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Air Conditioning Corporation for eight years before moving on to Western Electric Company, retiring as senior engineer in 1981. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, where he served as usher, Sunday school teacher, and Deacon. Joe was a registered Professional Engineer, a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, and Professional Engineers of North Carolina. He was a past president of the Greensboro Business Club, and with his wife, Mary, very active in Club 30, a local ballroom dance club. He was a member of Greensboro #76 Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, the Shrine, and Greensboro Elks Lodge #602. He was a wonderful husband and father, and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 617 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, or Friends Homes Guilford, 925 New Garden Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410. Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Home is assisting the Westbrook family. The obituary and online condolences may be viewed at www.lambethtroxlerfuneralhome.com