Gorman Joe Dye

Gorman Joe Dye

November 22, 1924 - May 27, 2021

Gorman Joe Dye passed away on May 27, 2021, in Walnut Creek , CA., where he had been a resident of for over 50 years. Joe was born in Mammoth, Missouri and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1941 in order to help support his mother when his father passed away during the Great Depression. In 1943 he was drafted into the US Army Air Corps when the United States was drawn into WWII. Joe was most proud of the training he received while in the military and served as a Radar Maintenance and Repair Technician stationed at Royal Air Force Station Tibenham in England. Radar was a new technology at the outbreak of the war and Joe was also trained in radio communications.

At the end of the war, Joe was transferred to Stockton Field in California and he was discharged in December 1945.

It was in Stockton that Joe met his bride-to-be Betty Jeane Eberhardt; they were married on  November 30, 1945, and were married for more than 73 years until her death on July 27, 2019.

Joe was hired by the Mother’s Cake and Cookie company in 1946 as a Route Salesman in Stockton. In a few years he was promoted to a Route Supervisor for the San Joaquin Valley area. In 1956 he was promoted again to a Sales Management position at Mother’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Joe was most proud of his accomplishments and the Senior Management positions held at Mother’s Cookies. When he retired in 1981 after 35 years with the company, he was Vice-President of Sales and held a position on the Board of Supervisors with the company. He also held many positions with organizations within the grocery industry where he met many individuals who became life long friends.

Joe enjoyed a long retirement and was able to travel with his wife camping, fishing, hunting and his favorite pastime, playing golf. He played golf until he was 92 years old. He loved playing golf and fishing with his buddies on the Oregon coast as well as in the desert near Palm Springs. For many years, Joe and Betty headed to their second home inPalm Desert to spend the winter months in a warmer climate. He also loved gatherings with his friends and family. He enjoyed watching the wildlife in his own backyard and hearing about the shenanigans  his granddaughter’s cats were up to.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Mollie (Barner) Dye and Leonard Dye, his brothers Henry and Gayford, his wife Betty and his daughter Sandra. He is survived by his son William Dye, granddaughter Michele Dye, daughter-in-law Elaine Dye and former daughter-in-law Susan Dye.

A funeral service will be held on June 09, 2021 at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite Veterans or Food Bank organization.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gorman Joe Dye, please visit our floral store.