Joseph W. Gainer Sr. of Charles Town, WV passed away on Thursday, January 16th, 2025,at the age of 83 at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV surrounded by his family.

Joe was born March 10, 1941 in Capital Heights, MD the son of the late James and Lottie Gainer.

He is survived by his sister Pamela Metzker (Gorden) of Flat Rock, NC and brother James Gainer Jr. (Peggy) of Wardensville, WV.

He was a Navy veteran, beloved husband, father, grandfather and a friend to everyone he met.

He is survived by his wife Virginia "Ginny" Gainer, son Joe Gainer Jr. (Dwayne), and daughter Sherri Lagana (Bobby) .  He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren Cameron Gainer, Alexis Gainer, Samantha Lagana and Jessi Lagana along with 2 great grandchildren Parker and Ariana Painter.

Joe grew up in Capital Heights, MD in the 50's and 60's when slicked back hair and fast cars were the fashion.  He was a good-looking man and was always in fashion.  He married his high school sweetheart "Ginny" shortly after joining the Navy and had two children and moved to the rural farmland setting of Southern Maryland.

He was beloved by all.  His quick-wit humor always left you laughing no matter what the situation.  He adored his family and cherished every moment with them.  Everyone that knew him had a story to tell about him.  He was proud of his Navy background and kept in touch with a few of his shipmates.  He served aboard the USS Boxer in the early 60's as a boiler technician, a job that no one cared to do during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he did so with a smile.  Once out of the Navy he went to work as an electrician and eventually started with the federal government in air conditioning and refrigeration, eventually becoming a shop planner and scheduler.

He retired around the age of 55 and moved from his home in Southern Maryland to a weekend cabin he and the family had been building in Wardensville, WV where he found great comfort in the mountains and rustic settings.  He loved working with wood and building things with his brother who lived next door and eventually had a fully faceted wood working shop right in his backyard.  He later downsized and moved to Charles Town, WV where he gained a multitude of new friends who adopted him as a father figure and grandfather.

His memory will live on in us all and will surely be followed by a smile.  Rest in peace Joe and rest assured your family and friends will love you forever and hold you dear to our hearts.  A very special thank you to all the doctors and staff from Martinsburg Veterans Hospital for taking such good care of him and making his transition a warm and peaceful one.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 1. 2025 at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, WV.