Joseph Larue

Luke, MD

Joseph Wallace LaRue, 84, of Luke, passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center.

Born November 16, 1928 in Westernport he was the son of the late Byron Otto and Mary Frances (Trenum) LaRue.

Joe attended Luke Elementary School and Bruce High School. He served three years in the U.S. Air Force where he was an airplane mechanic during WWII and the Korean War. He worked with the transportation department for the Western Maryland Railroad, retiring after 28 years of service. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Piedmont, WV. He served as a Police Commissioner of Luke for 10 years and then the Mayor of Luke for 12 years. He was inducted into the Maryland Municipal League’s Hall of Fame for all of his years as an elected official. Joe belonged to the AARP and the NRA. He was a lifetime member of the Kelly Mansfield Legion Post #52, a lifetime member of the Midland Sportsman Club, a member of the Blackhawk Tribe #131 in Westernport and also a member of VFW Post #1936 and Amvets Post #10, both of Hagerstown.

He is survived by his wife, Nora Mae (Bartles) LaRue, Luke; two daughters, Mary Jo Holland and husband Ed, Hagerstown, Bobbie Jo Larrick and husband Phil, Hagerstown; two stepchildren, Howard F. Whittington, Smithsburg, Sonia C. Whittington and fiancé Brian, Hagerstown. Joe was blessed with three grandsons, Derrick L. Whittington and wife Krystal, Hagerstown, Jason L. Ferguson and wife Brigette, stationed with the USAF in Florida, Curtis D. Fogle, Greencastle, PA; and three great grandchildren, Chance Parfitt, Haylee Whittington, Hagerstown and Jocelyn Ferguson, Florida. He is also survived by his lifelong friend Jack Fazenbaker of Westernport.

Friends and Family will be received at the Boal Funeral Home, Westernport, on Saturday, December 22, 2012 from 1 PM to 3 PM. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 3:00 PM with Rev. Bart Thompson officiating.

Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home after the funeral service; interment will be at the Maryland Veteran’s Cemetery, Rocky Gap, at a later date.

A reception will follow the funeral service at the Trinity United Methodist Church’s social hall in Piedmont, WV.

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