Joseph George “Joe” Felber Jr. was born on May 12, 1936 at Fort Benning, GA. He was the son of Colonel Joseph G. (USMA x1927) and Evelyn Felber. After the war in 1946, his mother, sister, and Joe joined his father in Schwetzingen, Germany. He recalled he devastation of the war: roadside graves marked by inverted rifles, smoldering towns, and never-to-be forgotten Dachau. He was proud of his father’s service and his compassion and support for the defeated enemy, all of which inspired Joe to follow in his footsteps. Joe and his brother, Ted (USMA ’57), knew their father wanted his sons to go to West Point to fulfill his dream. He never influenced their decisions, but when his brother entered, Joe knew he would follow. During Reorganization Week, his firstie brother ordered him to “Drive over here, mister”—that being South Area, Runt Heaven. After an eternity of neck bracing by his brother’s roommates, his brother recognized him.
As a blind date stand-in for his roommate, who had other commitments, Joe met Mary “Punkie” Stickle. He knew the moment he saw her in Grant Hall the spring of yearling year that she would become his OAO for life. (Punkie was C-1’s Sweetheart and pictured in the May 1959 Pointer, Femme Edition.) He and Punkie were married in Hempstead, NY on June 11 after graduation. Standing up for them were classmates Dick Walter (best man), Fred Bidgood, Dick Jaeckel and John LeFebvre. While at the basic course at Fort Knox, KY, Punkie was initiated as an Army wife when she had to plan and organize the move to Germany. After that shock, nothing fazed her. She was an excellent Army wife and commander’s lady. Joe and Punkie were blessed with three children: Christine, Charles, and Joe III (two Germany born); and six grandchildren.
Joe served in the Army for 20 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, first as a staff and senior Advisor to the 1st Brigade Vietnamese Airborne Division (yes, armor files can do that!) and later as a district senior advisor in Long Khanh Province. In 1974, Joe was assigned to Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, working the manpower programming required (he thought) to make VOLAR a success, along with several really talented and scholarly guys who were committed to the 16 Division Force (anybody remember that?) when Bo Callaway (“Glad you asked!”) was Secretary of the Army. During this assignment, he and Gene Brisach had time for one occasion of off-the-wall fun. Joe and Gene decided to attend a showing of Deep Throat in DC right before it was banned. The best part was standing in line on F or G Street waiting to get into the theater on a rainy and chilly night with other suspicious viewers, all wearing trench coats. Lotsa good jokes. What fun!
After staff assignments in the Pentagon with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Joe was selected for command in 1977 and activated the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor at Fort Stewart, GA. He brought the battalion to combat ready status in time for participation in a major field exercise at Elgin Air Force Base, FL. After his command assignment, he managed the Joint Recruiting Advertising Program in the Office of Secretary of Defense. Upon retiring from the Army in 1980, Joe joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in their Real Estate Division where he became a regional manager responsible for real estate activities in the Eastern third of the United States overseeing construction, leasing and facilities management. Joe left EDS in 1996. For more fun, Joe took a job delivering flowers for a florist and was smelling them from then on.
In retirement, Joe enjoyed weekly golfing with USMA classmates. He thoughtfully helped a disabled classmate enjoy the delights of golf when he unable to do so on his own. He loved to tease those he loved and those with whom he was close. He loved music, especially oldies from his high school and college years. Joe also was very attached to the family pets, especially his chocolate Labradors, Mocha and Georgie. He was very patriotic and dedicated to the ideals of our nation, as well as being a devout Catholic. Joe was very proud to be a part of a family that has so willingly served our country: his father, brother, both sons, oldest grandson, niece, brother-in-law, two uncles, and father-in-law—and the ladies who supported and stood behind them.
Joe passed away March 19, 2016 and was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 59, one section away from his parents in Section 60.