William Joseph "Joe" Sickle, 84, of California, MD died January 6, 2009 at Solomon's Nursing Home in Solomons, MD. Born in Great Mills on August 17, 1924, he was the oldest son of William Clarence and Madeline Elizabeth Owens Sickle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his two brothers, Francis and Steven Sickle, and two sisters, Louise S. Norris and Grace S. Oliver.

A veteran of World War II, he served three years in the U.S. Army including campaigns in the Philippines, Okinawa and Korea. Following the war Mr. Sickle joined the work force at Patuxent River Naval Base where he was employed as a heavy-duty mechanic and as an aircraft ground support equipment inspector for 31 years.

After work hours, he continued to farm the land which has remained in his family for over 100 years. He was a jack-of–all-trades, using his mind and his hands to master whatever was needed to provide for his wife and children. He was also a life member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus. Retirement provided him the opportunity to care for his elderly relatives, as well as enjoy long anticipated fun with his children and grandchildren.

Mr. Sickle also devoted many hours to the senior citizens of the community - volunteering at the St Mary's Nursing home and sharing his music as a harmonica player and singer with the Senior Vibes singing group.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Dorothy Greenwell Sickle, whom he married on February 1, 1947 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown.

Other surviving family members include: a sister, Rose S. Russell of Florida; five children- Dorothy S. Prickett and her husband, Joe, of California, MD; W. Kenneth Sickle and his wife, Cheryl, of Iron Mountain, MI; Joseph C. Sickle and his wife, Cheryl, of California, MD; Elizabeth S. Stricker and her husband, Andy, of Montgomery, Al; and Kathryn S. Flitter and her husband, Lance, of Germantown, MD and nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10:30 AM in Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, MD with Fr. Joseph Sileo officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Arthur Prickett IV, Adam Sickle, Michael Shea, Lance Flitter, Danny Greenwell and Parran Bean. Honorary Pallbearers will be Nell Prickett DeMattia, Joe McKay, Donnie Poe, Joe Spelz, Jamie Wilson and Mike Lacey.

Contributions may be made to American Stroke Association, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-4101, Multiple Sclerosis, 10946 Beaver Dam Road, Suite E, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, National Fibromyalgia Research Association, P.O. Box 500, Salem, OR 97308 and/or Ladies of Charity at Holy Face Catholic Church, P.O. Box 106, Great Mills, MD 20634.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.