TUSCOLA: Joe Dell Newman, 92, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023.  A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 20, at 2:00pm in the Buffalo Gap Cemetery, directed by Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola.  A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 19th, from 2:00 - 4:00pm at the funeral home.

Joe was born in Yuma, Arizona on February 13, 1931, to Lee and Beatrice Newman.  After graduating from Yuma Union High School, he attended Arizona State University.  While at Arizona State, Joe took a break from school and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  After deploying to Korea and fighting in the Korean War, he returned to Arizona State and earned a Bachelors in Education.

Joe then became a teacher but soon realized that teaching was not his calling, so he opened a bar in San Diego for a few years.  He then moved to Abilene, and later Tuscola, where he worked for Timex.  When Timex moved out of the area, Joe became a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service.  He retired on January 1, 2015, to his longtime home in Tuscola.

Joe married Sharyl Holmes in 1966, and they welcomed three children into the family.  He loved his family, and taking long road trips with them, especially to the Texas coast.  In his off time from the Post Office, Joe enjoyed farming and raising animals.

He is survived by his daughters, Darla Sparks of Abilene, and Stacey Walker, and husband John, of Tuscola; grandson Jason Southern; great-grandson Kaden Southern; sister-in-law Judy Newman of Yuma; nephew James L. Newman; and niece Stephane Aguilar.

He was preceded in death by his parents, former wife Sharyl (2021), son Craig (1982), and brother James (2007).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Semper Fi & America's Fund at www.thefund.org.

Condolences may be left at www.fry-smith.com.