Joseph Richard Behil, 90, long time resident of Endwell, NY passed away peacefully in his home in Fuquay Varina, NC on May 26, 2022. Joseph is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years Barbara (Kenderes) Behil, 4 children, Mary (Richard) Allen, Vincent (Karen) Behil, Theresa (David) Keiser, Matthew (Christine) Behil, 8 grandchildren, Michael Allen, Laura Allen, Matthew Allen, Stephen Behil, Paige Keiser, Zachry Keiser, Kathryn Behil and Nicholas Behil, sisters in law Joan Behil and Patricia Hromek as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents Joseph and Anna Behil, brothers Stephen and John Behil, sisters Rose Ivan, Helen Indrick, and Mary Pochily, brothers in law Frank Ivan, Steven Indrick, Henry Pochily, Joseph Hromek, and sister in law Genevieve Behil.
The youngest of 6 children, Joe was born in Corunna, Michigan in 1931 and moved to Binghamton, NY in 1933. He was raised with strong family values, Catholic devotion, and a powerful work ethic. Joe graduated from Johnson City High School in 1950 and soon chose to serve his country in the United States Air Force from 1951-1954. He was proud of his work as an airplane mechanic and in the ensuing years loved to talk about and visit air shows that displayed planes such as the B26’s, P51 Mustangs and F100’s he worked on, among others. Joe served in the Korean War, receiving several commendations for exemplary conduct. Upon completion of his time with the Air Force, he had risen to the rank of Airman First Class and had command of his own hangar bay. When he re-entered civilian life, Joe considered himself fortunate to be accepted into one of the first apprentice programs offered through IBM and completed a rigorous 4 year program to become a manufacturing engineer.
It is not surprising that Joe met his loving wife at a church dance as family and religion are an integral part of the man he was. His family was his greatest pride and accomplishment. He loved taking family vacations, attending school sporting events, and hosting many extended family picnics. He was always very proud of his family and their own accomplishments. Joe was employed by IBM for 38 years before retiring. He was a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. Through his employment with IBM, Joe had the opportunity to take his family to Germany for a 9 month assignment. It was with great pride he was able to travel to Czechoslovakia with his family to see the birthplace of his parents and meet many of his relatives still living there. Joe was very proud of his Slovak heritage. Once Joe and Barbara’s children had gone off to college, the two enjoyed vacationing across the United States together. They would often pick a destination, fly there, then rent a car and explore.
Joe was an avid fisherman in his younger years, sharing this love with his nephews, and also enjoyed hunting before starting his own family. He loved to listen to polkas and polka dance with his wife. Joe served several years on the board for Slovak Catholic Cemetery. He was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Binghamton before moving to Endwell to start his family. He was an active member in the St. Joseph community with both the school and church until he and his wife moved to Fuquay Varina, NC in 2014. They have most recently been members of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Fuquay Varina.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Endicott on Tuesday, June 21 at 11:00 am. Burial will be immediately following at Slovak Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at St. Joseph Catholic Church June 21 from 10:00 until 11:00 am. Any donations in Joe’s memory may be sent to The American Heart Association, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Endicott, NY, or EWTN.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7
S’ponom Bohom Slovak to English translation- “God go with you”
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