Joe Eugene Magruder
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 3C - June 13, 2021
Joseph Eugene Magruder was
born to Joseph E. Magruder
and Elizabeth Marie Stucki
Magruder on May 25, 1932 in
Monte Vista, Colorado. He was
called home peacefully on May
27, 2021 at the age of 89.
He was a beloved son,
husband, father, grandfather,
brother, and friend who was
known for his kindness and
compassion, caring deeply about other people and animals. He
married his Monte Vista, CO childhood neighbor, Francis Diane
Conant, in November 1955 and they shared 52 wonderful years
together before her too early passing in December 2007.
Joe is survived by son, Joseph Brian, and daughter-in-law,
Deborah Anne Magruder, of Fruita, CO; grandchildren, Matthew,
of St. Paul MN; Jennifer, of Berkeley, CA, and Amy, of Atlanta,
GA; nephews and nieces of NM and Texas, and his very good
friend and supporter, Lisa Wingert, of Grand Junction, CO.
After graduating from Highland High School in Albuquerque,
NM in 1951, Joe joined the Navy during the Korean War, was
stationed in Guam, Newport, RI and performed sea duty in Japan
and Korea. Upon returning after four years, he married Diane and
joined Sandia Laboratories. He later earned a business degree that
led to many challenging assignments including positions in the
Medical Department, representative for the Waste Isolation Pilot
Project (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM, and later a position in the Public
Relations Dept. After retiring in 1982, Joe and Diane moved back
to Carlsbad, NM, and enjoyed traveling in their RV, spending
summers in Ruidoso, NM and winters in Arizona and Texas. In
1996 they moved to the Western Slope of Colorado and settled in
Clifton.
Joe moved to Grand Junction in 2008 and spent much of his
late retirement years volunteering at St. Mary’s Hospital shuttling
patients and visitors and making popcorn.
An honor and committal service will be held on June 18, 2021,
10:00 a.m., at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Riverside
Parkway in Grand Junction. A second service will be held in
Albuquerque, NM at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to HopeWest Hospice
or the animal rescue cause of your choice.
