Joseph Robert Desimone, age 84, of McRoberts, Kentucky, passed away Thursday December 13, 2012, at the Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, Kentucky. He was born on December 8, 1928, at Jenkins, Kentucky, and was a lifelong resident of Letcher County, Kentucky.He retired from Beth Energy Corporation after thirty-seven years of employment, and was a general mine foreman. He was a United States Army Veteran, serving during the Korean War. Mr. Desimone was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Jenkins. He was also a member of the United Mine Workers of America. He very much enjoyed gardening.
He was a son of the late Vinzenso and Anna DeSidora Desimone, and was also preceded in death by four sisters and five brothers. Survivors include his wife, Ramond Rife Desimone, of McRoberts, Kentucky; a daughter, Teresa Desimone, Hilton Head, South Carolina; four sons, Gregory Joseph Desimone and Geoffrey Jerome Desimone, both of Lexington, Kentucky, Steven Anthony Desimone and Michael Raymond Desimone, both of Hilton Head, South Carolina; thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation was on Sunday December 16, 2012, from 6-9 pm at the Polly & Craft Funeral Home, Jenkins, Kentucky. A funeral mass will be held on Monday December 17, 2012, at the St. George Catholic Church, with Father Santosh Madanu, officiating. Interment followed at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Norton, Virginia. Military rites were given by the Pound, Virginia VFW Post #9600.