Joseph Gumber

Joseph H. Gumber July 22, 1924—October 25, 2014 Joseph Harry Gumber, 90, passed away at St Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, on October 25, 2014. He had succumbed to a short illness from pneumonia. Joe was born in Canton, Ohio to Hungarian immigrant parents, Joseph Harry Gumber, Sr. and Ethel Toth. He spent his childhood and early adult years in Omaha, Nebraska and Lakewood, Ohio. Joe graduated from Lakewood High School in 1942. Joe learned a strong work ethic at a very young age having to help his family survive the Great Depression by being a paper boy during grade school. His favorite interests were golf and flying. He formed the first golf team at his high school and had shagged balls for Ben Hogan at the driving range. Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his eighteenth birthday during World War II, in order to enter flight school. His dream was to be a pilot and fly airplanes, just as his father did. As a child Joe rode with his father in a by-wing plane carrying the mail along the Missouri River and spending numerous hours watching airplanes fly in and out of the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. During flight training Joe attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He finished torpedo bomber flight training in 1945 just before the end of WWII. He remained in the Naval Reserve as a pilot until 1951, assigned to Quonset Point, Rhode Island. At the age of 20 in Miami, Florida, Joe married the love of his life, Margaret Lucille Eberling of Westlake, Ohio. Joe and Margie had known each other since they were both 5 years old. At the time of his marriage Joe was stationed in Miami during pilot training during World War II. Upon the cessation of WWII Joe returned to the Cleveland, Ohio area where he ran his father's business, the Lakewood Window Cleaning Company. Joe and Margie's daughter, Marsha, and eldest son, Joe W., were born in Cleveland, Ohio. Joe continued to run the janitorial business while serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Joe also was a beer salesman for a brief period and started a lost baggage delivery business for the newly-formed airlines. In 1953 Joe was hired by American Airlines as a pilot, while the couple and their young family lived in North Olmsted, Ohio. In 1959 Joe was transferred and moved his family to the San Francisco, CA area. A few months later Joe and Margie's youngest child, Daniel, was born. Joe and Margie raised their three children to adulthood in the west Bay Area cities of San Mateo, Belmont, Redwood City and Portola Valley, California. Of course his golf game did not suffer in this locale – winning numerous events while being a member at the famous Olympic Club. During the early 1960’s, Joe and Margie extended their Belmont, CA home to Margie’s parents who needed a change of pace from the family farm. During the 1960's Joe and his father-in-law owned and ran a saloon, The Swinging Door, in San Mateo, CA. which is still in business. Joe continued to fly for American Airlines until his retirement in 1984. During his career he served as a pilot's representative on the airline accident investigation team for the National Transportation and Safety Board, was an Allied Pilot's Association Union board member and served as president of the American Airlines retired pilots group, the Grey Eagle's. Upon retirement from the airlines, Joe and Margie moved from California to their summer home in Gunnison, Colorado, and to their winter home, a Leisure World development, in Mesa, Arizona. They retired in the Rocky Mountain Region to be closer to their children, golf, fish, hunt and enjoy the favorable climate. Joe and Margie were active as dual residents of Colorado and Arizona. Making friends from around the world at both locations, Joe sponsored numerous events and activities ranging from golf outings to dance parties. Joe was a member of the Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison, CO until recently. For many years Joe and Margie hosted the summer “Rendezvous” with their “Leisure World Friends” who came to Colorado to golf, play tennis, fish, raft, sight-see and escape the Arizona summer heat. Joe was dedicated to his family, friends, and his work. Joe loved to travel the world, not only as an airline pilot, but as a tourist and "cruiser". His favorite countries visited were Hungary and Ireland. Upon the death of Margie in 2003 Joe became active at St. Peter's Church in Gunnison, CO, serving as a Eucharistic minister and a Bible study group member. Joe's other interests over the years were mosaic crafting, woodworking, wood burning, coin collecting, investment managing, puzzling and crossword puzzling. Joe was friendly and fun-minded to all who met him. When asked how he was doing he would reply "if had it any better I'd have to be twins"! Joe is survived by his brother Tom Gumber (Cheryl) of Keystone Heights, FL; two sons, Joe W. (Veta) Gumber of Palisade, CO; and Dan Gumber of Edwards, CO; five grandchildren, Shawn McMenamy, Tucker Gumber, Marena Gumber, Morgan Gumber, Junell Gumber; three great grandchildren, Kittrick Mann, Macy Rogers and Taylor Anoia; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Margie Eberling Gumber; his daughter, Marsha Glass; and his grandson, Scott McMenamy. A funeral Mass will be held on November 12, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. St. Peter's Catholic Church in Gunnison, CO. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church Development Fund in Gunnison, CO, The Wounded Warrior Project, or a charity of your choice in remembrance of Joseph H. Gumber.