Hartman, Joseph Valentine passed away on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at his home in Ocean View, DE. Born to Regina and Valentine Hartman on January 9, 1919 in Baltimore, MD, Joe was 93 years old on his last birthday. He was raised in Joppa, MD on a parcel of farm land that was owned by his mother's family. Joe always wanted to know how things worked. He told the story of the time he took his father's car apart and his mother made him put it back together in the rain. There were a few parts left over, but oh well. The car ran. He entered the Navy in 1942 as an Aviation Mechanic-Instrument 3rd Class. He was stationed in Norfolk, Va., Memphis, Tenn., Jacksonville, FL, and Chicago, Ill during WWII. After his military discharge in 1946, he met and married Margaret G. Manning, a WWII Coast Guard veteran from Port Henry N.Y. They loved to dance together at the Moose dances where Joe was a member for many years. Margaret and Joe raised seven children on Oak Street in Edgewood, MD. Joe worked as a Test Mechanic at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and retired in 1984. After his retirement and the children were grown, Margaret and Joe moved to Ocean View, DE. They were happily married 44 years until Margaret died in 1991. He was a dedicated Ham Operator (K3GUX) for over 50 years and helped establish a Civil Defense Headquarters for Harford County, MD. At 93 he was on the radio every day at 11:00 a.m. talking to close friends around the world that he had never met face to face. .

Joe is survived by his loving children; Patricia E. Hall of Sanford, FL, Jane Kalmbacher of Fairbanks, Alaska, Margaret Christian of Seaford, DE, Michael Hartman of Perryville, MD, and Valerie Fisher of Ocean View, DE. He lost two of his seven children. Joan Hartman died in 1956 and Joseph Hartman,Jr. died in 2010. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Stephen Hall, Tracey Schenck, Ryan Hall, Brian Miller, Erin Chronister, Dane Christian, Jenny Barby, Kelly Fisher, Megan Kalmbacher, Jacob Kalmbacher and twelve great-grand children. Joe will be missed by his sister ,Florence Cromwell living in Baltimore, MD, and two brothers, Francis and Richard Hartman, both living in Florida. The viewing will be held at the Bethany Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Rd, Ocean View, DE on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

A mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Pkwy, Bethany Beach, DE. 19930. The burial will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, New Castle County, Delaware. 19701.