Joe K. Provence-SFC-US Army-Retired of St. Petersburg, FL died at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL on April 27, 2008 of natural causes.
A native of Paintsville, KY, Joe attended Martin County School as well as many advance military schools. He was a highly decorated soldier in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His military honors include two Bronze Stars for Valor; a Purple Heart from the Korean War; the Combat Infantry Badge, two US Army Commendations and four Presidential Unit Citations. During SFC Provence’s military career, he was a Career and Retention Advisor as well as a Recruiter serving in the recruiting office in Franklin, NC.
Joe was the son of the late Mack and Dixie Provence and the grandson of the late Mary Jane and Claude McFadden of Tomahawk, KY. He is survived by his daughters, Debra Miller and Jody Provence of Franklin, NC; a brother, Paul Provence of Paintsville, KY; two sisters, Ruth Spirko of Seminole, FL and Doris Mills of Canal Winchester, OH; his aunt, Alma Daniels of Southpoint, OH and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Full military honors and graveside funeral services are 3:00 PM, July 25, 2008 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
Veterans Funeral Care
1-800-467-7850
I am proud that my brother is being honored by his country for his bravery. He fought many battles in life but died peacefully and lovingly with his daughters love and support. Ruth
Joe was a big brother that I could always count on and he always showed his love to me.
Debbie,my thoughts and prays are with you, seems like the death of a Veteran is always touching to me I am proud of your dad and what he did for our country.
Joe, thank you for being one of the
amazing soldiers that helped to keep our country safe. You have my
heartfelt admiration and respect.
You will be missed. Peace be with you. Love, Claudia
Many have had the pleasure of knowing a hero, but we McFaddens have the great honor of loving our hero. What a homecoming that was thrown in Heaven. Now at ease, you may rest soldier…Thank you Cousin Joe.
My first memories of Joe was a thin, curly headed, very handsome guy sitting on my grandparents porch in Kentucky getting ready to go to the Marines. He was stationed at Paris Island and on miners vacation we went to Beaufort and would get to see Joe and his wife Phyllis. During the years Joe would come and go in our family. He was always in our thoughts and we were happy to see him–even though he would get aggravated at me. I truly believe that in his way, he loved his family, and his country and certainly showed this love during the past reunions. He will be sadly missed.
As the oldest daughter of Joe Provence, I reflect back on what it meant to be part of his life. First, the best memories of Daddy are of our McFadden family, and how loving and supportive we have always been to one another. Next, are the opportunities that were given to me as part of Daddys military career were huge. The places I lived, the wonderful things I saw and experienced. But, most of all, the love of a man for his country and all the sacrifices he made. For this Daddy, I will always be grateful. I am, and will always be proud to be your daughter. Debbie
It was such a pleasure and honor to be with and talking so much to Joe in the latter years of his life. Being more than a cousin, he was my hero. Joe, I miss you and love you.
Roger Sublett
Debbie and Jody,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking of you. Reading about your father and learning of his sacrifices, I know you must be proud. As children, we didn’t always know what went on behind the scenes and it is not until we are adults that we have a greater understanding of our parents I’m so glad that you got to spend the last week with your father. It was truly a gift for all of you. I love you.
June
Debbie and Jody, we only knew and come to love your father during his retirement years after his mother, Dixie, married Norma’s father, Archie. We appreciate Joe’s service to his country and what he did for Dixie and my father when we couldn’t be there for them. You have a wonderful family to love you and help you deal with your loss. We love all of you!
Joe – you were so special to my mother. I know she was the first to teach me to love you, but I would also like to think I did it on my own – you were always my hero. -Betty Jane
Debbie and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.Patsy
Daddy,
Debbie and I were always excited to see you when you came home from work. We would each sit on your boots and unleash your boot strings for you. Even as young children we knew you were special to be a soldier. Once as a child I asked you if you had killed anybody in war. You got such a sad look in your eyes and said “killing another person isn’t anything to be proud of.” Being a soldier you had to do things that were against your moral and christian values you were raised with. My mommaw Dixie always said that God has a very special blessing in his heart for a soldier. She read me scriptures in the Bible where God praised soldiers. We both cried when she read because we knew she was talking about you. It is because of your love for God and our country we are still free.
I still treasure going to St. Louis to your Fox-25 Marine Reunion, and meeting all the men who fought beside you in Korea. They all loved you so much.
I am so proud and honored that you are going to be laid to rest at Arlington. You are truely an American Hero, but most important my Hero. I really do understand, and I Love you Daddy.
Jody
My Cousin Joe Provence:
As a young boy growing up in Eastern Kentucky, Joe may have been the original “Dennis the Menace”, or maybe “Kenneth the menace.” A fact proved by a grade school yearbook photo in which Joe has a big black eye, and an even bigger
I feel blessed to have several days in late 2006 to be in Florida and visit with Uncle Joe for a bit almost every day. My wife and I took him out for breakfast and we’d sit outside the hospital and talk while he smoked, or course. One morning while we were there, my car just happened to be parked across from the patio. I told him how good the gas mileage was and what a good car it was to travel with. We started discussing road trips and how to get to certain places. He had me get my road atlas from the car and there we sat just pouring over the maps, him telling me how to get all over the country the quickest way. Every time I look at that car, I’ll remember that special time.
Joe:
Thanks for the friendship that we shared during our military career and post military. I remember the good time that I had at your Korean reunion in St Louis and traveling with you on the recruiting circuit in Macon County. Thanks for getting my brother back in the Army. I also remember the good times at the reunions in Kentucky.
Your friend, Jack
Debbie, Jody, and Family,
You have been in our thoughts and prayers. I’m glad your Dad is being buried in Arlington. It seems like the perfect place for him to rest and be honored.
My children and I as well as Phillip Cove Freewill Baptist Church would like to extend our sincerest condolences. Joe will be sadly missed. God bless you all.
Provence family,
I count it an honor to have known Joe.
I express my deepest sympathy for the family. I knew Joe,Paul and Doris from Inez High School. I occasionally see Doris at the Martin County Dinners in Columbus, Oh. The Province family was one of the finest families in Martin County.
Provence Family, With sincere sympathy for your loss. I pray that your memories will be a comfort to you during this difficult time.
Just reminiscing of family and especially Joe. He was my Hero… He and I shared some of my State Police experiences, One in particular involved that a lot of people were going to get hurt…. He replied that he totally understood.. I loved Joe!!