Charles W. "Speed" Joiner Jr.

Charles W. “Speed” Joiner, Jr., of Chestertown, MD, passed away on March 13, 2015, at Chester River Manor. He was 93. Mr. Joiner was born on July 19, 1921, in Betterton, MD, the son of the late Charles W. Joiner, Sr., and Lena Luike Joiner. He served in the United States Navy during World War II with the Navy Seabees, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines. He returned to Kent County and worked for Chestertown Electric, until it became Delmarva Power in 1976. Mr. Joiner retired in 1979, after 41 years. He was a renowned decoy carver, carving over 40,000 working decoys and an unknown number of miniature and half size decoys. In his own words, “I’ve carved a few ducks.” He loved to shoot sporting clays and in his early years, he enjoyed hunting. Mr. Joiner loved aircrafts and in 1998 he built a 1/10 scale B-17 Bomber, complete with motors and ready to fly. It is an identical copy of the B-17, complete with motors and ready to fly. It is an exact copy of the B-17, flown by his good friend, the late David Bramble of Chestertown, including the correct serial number and logos. He donated it to the Massey Air Museum in Massey, MD. He was member of Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post, #36 in Chestertown, MD, a very active member of the Havre De Grace Decoy Museum where he was a charter member, and a charter member of the Betterton Volunteer Fire Company. He is survived by his wife of nearly 24 years, Janet Watson Sterling Joiner, along with her children, Richard Creighton of Chevy Chase, MD, David Creighton of Arnold, MD, and Rodney Creighton of Kansas City, MO, Linda Creighton of Arlington, VA, Deborah Creighton of Chestertown, MD, and Rebecca Sessa of Galena, MD; a brother, Walter Joiner of Kennedyville, MD; two nephews, Robert Joiner of Still Pond, MD, and William Joiner of Still Pond, MD; and a half-brother, David Joiner of Dover, DE. A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Please feel free to leave a memory or testimonial to the family on the webpage. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Chestertown, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Havre De Grace Decoy Museum, 215 Giles Street, Havre De Grace, MD 21078 or the Betterton Community Development Corporation, P.O. Box 152, Betterton, MD 21610.

Charles W. "Speed" Joiner Jr.

July 19, 1921 - March 13, 2015