Joe E. Polson

JOE ELLIS POLSON
December 23, 1935 - October 15, 2022

Joe Ellis Polson passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on Saturday, October 15, 2022. He was home with loved ones around him.

Joe was born on December 23, 1935 to Lawrence Lee and Eliza Vada Polson in Jay, Oklahoma. He spent part of his childhood in Jay and moved to Richland, Washington, where he graduated high school in 1953.

Like his father did before him, Joe had an amazing memory and often told stories of his childhood. One story he recently told was that as a young boy, when he was a cadet of the Civil Air Patrol. Joe loved to hang out at the airfield and get rides from any pilot who would take him up. He and a friend once took a ride to Walla Walla knowing that the pilot wasn't returning to Richland. They thought they might catch a ride back, but no one was going back that night. He and his buddy had just enough money between them to rent a motel room, from which they called his mom and brother to pick them up. They really had no way of explaining where they were exactly, so Joe decided to call the local police to let them know that his mom and brother were coming from Richland to find them. The police handled it from there and when their car was spotted coming into town, they were stopped and asked if they were looking for two boys. His mom and brother were surprised by that question, but answered yes. They were then escorted to the motel to retrieve them. They then drove the 60 miles back home.

Joe joined the Air Force and ended up near Gallup, New Mexico where he met his wife of 64 years, Joan. They were married in July of 1958 and moved to Washington, where they spent many years raising their four daughters, Debbie, Danette, Deanna and Delena. They lived in Seattle, Renton and Auburn, Washington. He worked for Boeing and took many college classes, often working overnight just to go to school. They moved to Lakewood, Colorado in 1971 where he worked as a computer programmer for Martin Marietta.

Joe loved the mountains; he loved to spend time with family and friends hunting, fishing and camping. He and Joan loved going to antique stores searching for "treasures". He loved baseball, puzzles, cooking and sometimes just sitting on the back porch watching birds and squirrels.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Lee Polson and Eliza Vada Polson; sister, Vada Lee Elfers, brothers Lawrence Lee Polson Jr & Alvin Keith Polson and his daughter Danette Lynne Underwood. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Joan; daughters, Debra Taylor, Deanna (Loren) Rusch, Delena (Francis) Jackson; 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to your favorite charity in Joe's memory.

"Those we love don't go away.
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
so loved, so missed, so very dear."