SAVANNAH – Joseph H. Reese, Jr., beloved husband of the late Marjorie Pursell Reese, died October 18, 2016 in Savannah.

He was born on August 29, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was raised.

Joe Reese attended the George School, Bucks County, PA, and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA where he graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Finance. In 1951 he enrolled in the U.S. Air Force Officer Candidates School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Upon release from military service in September of 1953 he joined the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was later recruited by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company to start a new agency for that company in Philadelphia, in 1961. Joe was a 35 year and Life member of his Industry’s Million Dollar Round Table, wrote numerous articles and was called upon to address many insurance, legal, estate planning, and business groups in numerous parts of the USA and abroad.

Joe has been very active in business, civic, social, and charitable organizations. He served as President of the Philadelphia Chapter, American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters; Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Chairman of the Philadelphia Presidents’ Organization, and President of Compensation Systems Corporation. He served on the Boards of Provident American Corp (OTC), both of the American and Meridian Banks; CDI Corporation (NYSE) and Montgomery Management Corp (Chairman). His charitable Boards included Franklin and Marshall College; The American Lung Association of SE Pennsylvania; Holy Redeemer Hospital; the Philadelphia Sports Congress; and US Regional Sports Clubs. More recently he was on the Board of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra; as well as the National Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum where he also served as Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee and member of the Executive Committee. He was a member for some years of the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway Island.

Joe Reese had an active love for golf and was for many years a volunteer for the Golf Association of Philadelphia. His golf background included several individual club championships. He was also an instrument rated private pilot.

Joe has been an active member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church.

Having lost his loving wife Marge in September of 2014, he is survived by his brother, Bob, his daughter, Linda Hurd, a son, Daniel, and several grandchildren.

A Memorial Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., in the Bill and Evelyn Saum Memorial Garden at Skidaway Island United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice or the Mighty Eighth Museum.

Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com