Joe Anderson Colony

Joe Colony, 87, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away surrounded by family on August 3, 2024, at Doey's House Hospice Center in Hagerstown, MD, from complications due to Parkinson's Disease. Joe was born to Carroll and Violet Anderson Colony in Iowa on December 31, 1936. He is predeceased by his siblings Carolyn Gatchett (Robert "Bob" Gatchett), Charles "Chuck" Colony (Marjorie Colony; formerly married to Dot Colony), Lee Colony (Bonita "Bonnie" Colony), and Arthur Colony. Joe is survived by his adored wife of 62 years, Margaret "Peggy" Colony, and his children, David Colony (formerly married to Rhonda Buchan Boyer), Michael Colony (formerly married to Sherry Eileen Armstrong Colony), and Patrick Colony (Karen Colony); his cherished grandchildren Erik Colony (Carla Colony), Trevor Colony, Laina Colony, Megan Colony and Joseph Colony; and treasured great-grandchildren Olivia Colony and Sophia Colony. Joe spent most of his young life in Oregon and put himself through school at Reed College, earning a degree in Chemistry. He served in the United States Army after graduation. While working at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC, he had the good fortune to meet the love of his life through a successful blind date. While not exactly love at first sight (Joe did not like Peggy's outfit, and Peggy thought he was too quiet), it wasn't long before the pair was smitten, and a deep, unending love began to bloom that never stopped growing during their 62+ years together. Joe worked as a chemist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for most of his career, notably on the Hubble Space Telescope, which first launched in 1990. With a passion for nature and travel, Joe took his young family on many adventures around the United States, coast to coast, Maryland to Alaska, and everywhere in between. As the kids got older, Joe and Peggy expanded their travels to include trips on Windjammer Barefoot Cruises while spending summers as seasonal campers at Cherrystone Family Campground on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and winters in the Florida Keys. Joe's early years were marked by adversity. He faced great tragedy at a young age, yet he never allowed it to compromise his morals or deter him from his goals. He understood the value of hard work, perseverance, and education. He created a home with Peggy that was a magnet for people of all ages—a loving home filled with fun and an open-door policy for family and friends who became family. Joe was a man of few words (Peggy was right about that part on their first date), but his thoughts were always profound. He was kind, razor-smart, funny, with a dry wit, and capable. There wasn't a problem he couldn't solve. He was a good man, a great husband, a loving father, a wonderful Grandpa and great-grandfather, and the world is a better place for him having been in it. Visitation will be held at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD, on Monday, August 12, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a Memorial Service immediately following. Donations can be made to the Rock Steady Boxing Program for Parkinson’s Disease - https://www.rocksteadyboxing.org/donate/ Please add "Choose QAYMCA - This donation is for RSB Centreville, MD in memory of Joe Colony" to your donation information.

Joe Anderson Colony

December 31, 1936 - August 3, 2024