Joseph Palmer Irvine

PHOENIX – Joseph Palmer Irvine passed away peacefully on June 22, 2018. He was born on June 9, 1926, in Tempe, Arizona to Cecil Mc Dirmit and Joseph Palmer Irvine Sr.; his father was the son of a pioneer family that migrated from Ireland to Arizona Territory in the 1870s. Palmer, as he was called by his family, was the great grandson of Dr. John L. Gregg, the first doctor in Tempe, and the great grandson of Edward Irvine, the first attorney in Phoenix. His grandfather Joseph Alexander Rideout Irvine was a member of the first Arizona State Legislature in 1912.

In 1944, Palmer interrupted his high school education at Phoenix Union High School to enlist in the Navy. During WWII, he served on the USS Ute, a large tug boat in the South Pacific, participating in the Asiatic Pacific American Theatre and Liberation of the Philippines.

When the war ended, Palmer returned to Phoenix and married the love of his life, Jean Eichenauer, on March 31, 1946, their marriage lasting a whopping 72 years! He worked for APS, starting as a meter reader, moving to sales, and finally to energy efficiency.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Irvine, and three children, Marilyn Sollenberger (Jim), Claudia Lhotka (Peter), Joseph Palmer Irvine III (Loquata), and predeceased by his son, John Carl Irvine. In addition, he is survived by nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Palmer made his wife and family the center of his life. He is remembered in his roles as husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather as generous, patient, kind and fun-loving. Goodness and mercy followed him through his life and he now dwells in the house of the Lord. The family would like to thank Orchid Park Group Home and Hospice of the Valley for their tender care during his final days. A service celebrating his life will be on Saturday, August 4th at 10 AM at Central United Methodist Church in Pioneer Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Central United Methodist Church.