Joseph Charles Tanner II, 81, of Elkton, MD passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Born in New Castle, PA on July 30, 1944, he was the son of the late Joseph Charles and Virginia McClellan Tanner.

The majority of his career was at W.L. Gore and Associates. After his time with Gore, he retired from the University of Delaware at the College of Engineering and Engineering Outreach. In his early life, he was the Senior Year Class President Neshannock High School. After high school he attended, The Pennsylvania State University, 1962-1966, College of Earth and Mineral Science where he obtained his BS in Metallurgy. Mr. Tanner was active in his community most notably; Wilmington Chapter, Chairman, American Society of Medals, Cecil Soccer League, Board President, 1999-2011, Coach for 26 years, Rising Sun High School, Volleyball Assistant Coach, 7 years, and was honored with Tanner Field at Chesland Dedicated to him in 2007. He was a very active member of the Elkton United Methodist Church where he served in many positions. He served on international, national and local missions projects. In 2013, he was awarded along with his wife, Citizens of the Year Award by Elkton Chamber of Commerce and Alliance. Mr. Tanner was also Co-Founder of the Cancer Resource Center, Union Hospital with his wife.

Joe was a beloved husband, dad, and Cappy. He survived by his loving wife of 49 years; Judith Foster Tanner, children; Cindy Crismon (Matt), Joseph M. Tanner (Dee), Lynn Bollinger (Larry), Susan Tanner, and Patrick Tanner (Caroline), grandchildren; Hannah (Jared), Tyler, Joseph M. Jr., Cassidy (Hannah), Marina (Steven), Tanner (Devin), Grace, Jack and Isabella, great-grandchildren; Landon, Sawyer, Cooper, Ridgely, Mikey and Gradey, siblings; Charleen Micco, Linda Sellers and Debbie Wenger.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings; Carol Davis and Robert Tanner.

Visitation will be held 5-7 PM, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Hicks Home for Funerals, 103 W. Stockton Street, Elkton, MD 21921. Funeral service will be held 11 AM, Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Elkton United Methodist Church, 219 E Main St, Elkton, MD 21921, with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM. Interment will be in Sharps Cemetery, Elkton, MD.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Elkton United Methodist Church Mission Fund, 219 E Main St, Elkton, MD 21921.

My Short History:

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR A WONDERFUL LIFE!
I was born on Sunday July 30, 1944, in the Jameson Memorial Hospital
in New Castle, PA. My mother was Virginia McClellan Tanner, and my
father was Joseph Charles Tanner. My Dad was in the Navy during World
War II when I was born and his ship was in the San Francisco Bay being
outfitted for war in the Pacific. I did not meet my dad until I was almost
two. My sister Linda is a year and a half older than me and we all lived
with my dad's parents during this period and until my dad built a new
house across Mercer Road from my Grandparents in 1950. My sister
Carol was born in 1946, my sister Charleen was born in 1950, my
brother Bob was born in 1952, and my sister Debbie was born in 1954.
We had a great life together as a wonderful family. My grade school
education was in Walmo Elementary School, and it was a wonderful
experience both for learning and for social contacts. My Junior High and
Senior High School education were at the new Neshannock Schools and
again they were a wonderful experience. My class was the first to
complete 6th through 12th grade at the new Neshannock Township
Schools. I graduated 13th in a class of 92 and I was accepted at several
Colleges and Universities and I selected Penn State. While at Penn State
I was married and had two kids, Cindy and Joey. After a great four years
I graduated with a degree in Metallurgy. After graduation, I had great
jobs at DuPont. CSI, and Gore. During this period, my marriage failed
and I was again a bachelor. At Gore I met Judy, we dated and fell in
love. Judy had a daughter Lynn and after two years we married and Judy
and I had 2 children, Susan and Patrick. All five children have all been
great and wonderful children and have grown up to be great and
wonderful adults and friends.
Patrick started playing soccer when he was almost six years old. As we
supported him and went to his young team matches, Susan who was
almost eight years old and after watching Patrick play, one day she said
to me "Dad if you coach, I will play." And thus began 26 years of using
much of my free time to have a wonderful part of my life coaching
wonderful young people and helping to build Cecil Soccer League and
Chesland Soccer fields. I stopped with soccer in 2013 after retiring from
a wonderful job at the University of Delaware, College of Engineering in
2010. In 2017 a friend called and asked me to help coach the Rising Sun
Volleyball team. And began another seven wonderful years of working
with young people.
In 1990 Judy and I attended EUMC just to see what it was like. We had
been married in EUMC and Susan and Patrick had been baptized there
but we didn't find it interesting in prior attendances.. This was Gary
Moore's beginning at the church and we were hooked. During my
wonderful membership I've taught kids Sunday school, was a Worship
Leader, was a Choir member, lead the Missions Committee, and served
on multiple committees, and had a wonderful life experience with God
leading me.
In 2024 I was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and thus
began this stage of my life. God has blessed me with a great and
fulfilling life. Thank you God.