Joe Dan Phoenix

Joe Dan Phoenix was born on August 16, 1943 in Witchita Falls, Texas. The son of P.L. and Pansy Phoenix, and brother to Ed, he was raised as a Navy Brat while ‘Pop’ served as a Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate for 24 years. After living in Washington State, Hawaii and San Diego, it is no surprise dad followed in his fathers’ footsteps. Joe joined the Navy on February 16, 1962. He served as a Radar Technician and rose to the rank of Senior Chief Fire Control Technician. Joe served on the USS Benny, USS Croaker, USS Tattnall, USS Adams, USS Von Steuben, USS Simon Lake and USS Proteus. Joe ‘Qualified” in the submarines on December 6, 1965 while aboard the USS John Adams. He was a proud member of the Holland Club! Joe was a forever student. His mom “Pat” was a lifelong schoolteacher and instilled a love of learning that dad carried throughout his life. Dad was a card-carrying member of Mensa, a Lifetime member of The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars and a Life Member of the United States Submarine Veterans. He loved his time as a Shriner in Guam and was a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was also a proud member of the Holland Club, qualified in Submarines for over 50 years! Joe was advanced to Chief Petty Officer on September 1, 1971. Anyone who knows the Navy, the Initiation to chief may have involved the catching of a greased pig! Dad retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer (FTCS) in 1982. Dad spent over seven years making submerged patrols on five different submarines. There are too many medals, citations and degrees to mention. But there were a few comments in his evaluations worth sharing: “He is a well-rounded, educated, courteous, smart-appearing, gentlemanly, forceful and tactful individual of a caliber rarely encountered, even among the very best of the Senior Chief Petter Officer ranks in the U.S. Navy.” “Phoenix’s attitude and military behavior is as close to perfection as any man I have ever worked with.” And though the Navy may have been the first love of his life, all that changed while he was stationed in Dam Neck, Virginia at the Guided Missile School. While working a part time job at Montgomery Wards, he met the love of his life, Marie. Marie and Joe were married in Charleston S.C. in 1972. For 53 years, Dad referred to Mom as his bride. And not a single day went by when he didn’t ask her if there was anything he could do for her. For 53 years, dad put mom and his family first and foremost. He loved his girls, Denise, Diane & Lorraine. He was proud of all of us, but Diane had a gift we did not. She could talk computer geek with dad! He loved being Grandaddy Joe to George, Lonnie Jr. and Christina. I believe Lonnie Jr. at the age of five single-handedly challenged Dad far more than any technical glitches he experienced on a sub! He was thrilled to be a great grandfather to Chip, Grayson, Landon and Weston. But admittedly, he could not keep up with any of them! He and mom looked forward to family vacations with Jack & Jackie, Trish & Bernie. They even started a Nags Head Beach tradition that lasted for over 20 years! It was the only time I knew dad to like the beach. Even though he spent over 7 years under water, Dad got seasick when above it! Enduring throughout all these years, was a bond and friendship with his shipmates that was enviable. Maybe it came from hot-racking, sharing gillies, or any number of the pranks they played on the boat. However they were forged, they were steadfast. JP and Jere were among dad’s lifelong friends. Today we would call them dad’s besties. Dad thought JP had one of the quickest wits of anyone he ever met. JP shared this about Dad: “I first met Joe when we each reported for duty on the USS John Adams in 1965. The many hours spent with him in the Missile Control Center over the next years were a mix of education, humor, long discussions about things he was familiar with and I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. Technically he was in a league of his own, but where he really shone was as a human being. His continuing friendship over the past 60 years I will value for the rest of my days.” Jere became part of our family when dad brought him around to meet us oh so many years ago. The two of them sitting next to each other, always invoked the image of the two kids in the back of the class, constantly in trouble! Dad looked forward to his nightly calls with Jere like a teenage girl waiting for the phone to ring on a Friday night. Those calls became ever more important and meaningful to all of us these last five years. Lifelong friendships and family were what life was about for dad. A lesson dad taught all of us that we will carry on. Dad passed on December 29, 2025 due to congestive heart failure caused by Wild Type Transthyretin Related Amyloidosis. Fair winds and following seas dad. You did good Senior Chief Joe. A gravesite service will be held at Stonewall Memorial Gardens at 12004 Lee Highway, Manassas, Virginia on February 28, 2026 at noon. Please join us for lunch immediately following the service at the Fairmont – 9852 Fairmont Avenue, Manassas, Virginia.

Joe Dan Phoenix

August 16, 1943 - December 29, 2025