Joseph Claude "Joe" Birch, Sr., 54 of Lexington Park, MD died March 12, 2012 at Washington Hospital Center. Born January 15, 1958 in Leonardtown, MD, he was the husband of Bertie (Taylor) Birch whom he married on November 9, 1985.

Joe attended Little Flower School and was a graduate of Great Mills High School. He worked for a long time as a John Deere tractor mechanic, a self-employed contractor and builder, and finally as a Supervisor in Facilities Maintenance at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Joe was a Master Craftsman with the ability to build or fix anything. He enjoyed gardening, collecting coins and brass, spending time with his family, and watching black and white movies with his granddaughter. He could often be seen riding his tractor with Amaya, his granddaughter in his lap. After passing, Joe donated his corneas, as being an organ donor was something that was incredibly important to him. Please sign up to become an organ donor today.

Joe is survived by his wife, Bertie (Taylor) Birch, his three children, Katlyn Birch of Lexington Park, MD, Joanna M. Birch of Brooklyn, MD, and Joseph C. Birch, Jr. of Ridge, MD, five grandchildren, his parents, Raymond T. Birch, Sr. and Ada (Stone) Birch of Mechanicsville, MD, his siblings, Tom Ray Birch of Louisville, KY, Randy Birch of Champlain, VA, Gayle Dean of Mechanicsville, MD, Judy Free of Clements, MD, Lou Lou Pulliam of Virginia Beach, VA, Cheryl Rogers of Bardstown, KY and Janet Jenkins of Gates, NC.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Louis T. Birch.

Family will receive friends for Joe's Life Celebration on Friday, March 16, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in St. Cecilia's Church, 47950 Mattapony Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686. Prayers will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Scott Woods on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery, 47477 Trinity Church Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686.

Serving as pallbearers will be Randy Birch, Tom Ray Birch, Frank Taylor, Sr., Bob Taylor, Dave Taylor, Bernie Taylor, Vlad Reznik and Brian Tarleton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 520, Ridge, MD 20680 or the Washington Hospital Center, Coronary Care Unit, 110 Irving Street, NW, East Bldg. 1001, Washington, DC 20010.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.