Joseph Thomas McIlvain |
| Posted 2008-11-14 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, March 23, 2006 Joseph Thomas McIlvain, age 86, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006 in Prescott, Ariz. He was born Oct. 24,1919 in Prescott, the son of E. H. (Mac) McIlvain and Ellen McIlvain. Joe is survived by his son Charles and his daughter-in-law Sharon of Prescott; and brother E. H. (Pat) of Woodward, Okla. He is also survived by grandsons, Tom McIlvain of Phoenix and Scott McIlvain of Chicago; great grand-daughter, Brianna McIlvain; and great grandson, Ian McIlvain, of Phoenix. Joe was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary, and his parents. A Prescott native, Joe attended the local public school and had wonderful stories of growing up here. After graduating from Prescott High School, he studied at the University of Arizona. He did a hitch in the National Guard, then he joined the U.S. Air Corps, where he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following his discharge in 1945, Joe went to work for his father, the late E. H. (Mac) Mcllvain at the family motor company, which Mac started in 1919, the year Joe was born. "I figured I'd stay ten years; who would have thought I'd still be here all these years later?" Joe was fond of saying. And that is what Joe did. He stayed at Mcllvain Motors until he suffered a massive stroke at the Motor Company on March 13. Joe ran the oldest automobile dealership in Prescott and so he was the Dean of Prescott auto dealers. The quality of Mcllvain service and the personal attention of Joe Mcllvain to Prescott's many generations of car owners has not changed since he joined his father after his Air Force duty in WW II. Joe was proud of his name, so he did business the oldfashioned way, based on trust; and he helped people who were having problems and needed a car. Joe enjoyed talking to people and loved the business. He was thankful he was able to work six days a week after six decades in the automobile business. It was not all business for Joe. From his office he kept an eye on politicians and taxes, sometimes buying fullage newspaper ads to speak out against his pet issues. Joe was well known for his philanthropic ways, as many, many charitabl&i organizations and groups received donations. He was named Prescott's Business Philanthropist of the Year. Joe was especially known for his generosity to individuals, as there are many in the community who received help from him and are grateful for his kindness. To know Joe was to love him. Joe has proudly served this community for more years than most of us can remember. He was a member of Smoki, the group his father helped found. His commitment to the community and our youth can be seen in his continuous support of the Prescott Swim Team. Joe's lifelong friend, Mel Clack, was the founder of the Yavapai Center for the Blind, and Joe supported the Center wholeheartedly. Adios Joe ! In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Prescott Swim Team, P.O. Box 2886, Prescott, Ariz., 86302. Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 23 at Hampton Funeral Home, 240 S. Cortez St., Prescott. A private service will be held with interment at Mt. View Cemetery. The Hampton Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Information provided by survivors. |
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