Joseph Ross McLoughlin
July 14, 1923-Aug. 4, 2015
Menlo Park, California
Joe, a lifelong resident of Menlo Park, passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 4, 2015 at his home at the age of 92.
He was a first generation American, born in Menlo Park to Edward James McLoughlin from Ireland and Mary Cecelia Littlejohn Ross from Scotland. He was 6th of 9 children in his Catholic family. As a child of the Depression, this time of his youth forged his future as a frugal man. Coached by his childhood friends, ?Joey, save your money?, and following their advice, became a savvy business man and investor. He was proud of the fact that he had ?the cage before the bird?, a house before a wife.
Joe attended Central School, St. Joseph?s School, Sequoia High School and San Jose State University.
As a young man, he enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle and giving friends and neighbors rides. One of those friends, Doug Englbart, invented the computer mouse at SRI. During World War II, Joe served in the Merchant Marines in the engine room, working his way up to oilman. This is what he said was the cause of his hearing loss.
Joe enjoyed participating in his folk dance class where he met the love of his life, Eleanor Lussier, in November 1948. They married eight months later at The Church of the Nativity. Together they had a family of 6 girls and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on July 23rd. He worked as a Carpenter?s Apprentice and worked building homes up off The Alameda. With the death of his father, Joe took over to become the owner/operator of McLoughlin?s Shoe Repair on El Camino Real from 1950 to his retirement in 1988.
Joe, although being a world traveler, had his roots firmly planted in his home town and never moved away. He could be seen driving his familiar green 1969 Volkswagen bus around town that he owned for 45 years and just sold last year.
He was an active volunteer with many community agencies and was proud to be a member of Menlo Park Host/Live Oak Lions Club International, a charitable organization, for over 37 years, a 25 year member of RSVP, a lifelong member of The Church of the Nativity where he was baptized, received his first Holy Communion and married. He was a cashier for over 25 years at Peninsula Volunteers Little House where he also took lip reading classes. He and Eleanor delivered "Meals on Wheels" to neighboring seniors in need for many years. He was involved with St. Vincent de Paul Society where he would visit the sick, Sons in Retirement (SIRS), Merchant Mariners and many others.
Joe was always going, whether traveling or volunteering. He was fondly referred to as that ?Pink Bunny mascot? as his batteries kept on going and going and going until finally his batteries simply wore out. Joe was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Mary McLoughlin, his siblings Edward John, James Peter, Anne Demma, Margaret Frances, Irene Graham, Thomas Michael, Martin Bernard (Bernie) and daughter Margaret Sarah.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Eleanor, his daughters Eileen (David) Haughton of Rocklin CA, Cecelia (John) Dickinson of Sonora CA, Julia (Wayne) Usher of Fort Bragg CA, Mary Eleanor (Russell) Moore of Reno NV, Joanne (Bill) Taylor of Tigard OR and his youngest brother Robert Emmett ?Bobby? (Ruth) of Antelope CA. 11 Grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and a 5th on the way, sisters-in-law Lucille (Jim) and Ora Mae (Tom), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Tags: veteran, business, public service
