After a short illness, on May 29, 2012, our family and friends said a final “goodbye” to a remarkable man. Joe leaves his wife, Jayne Alice, his three children; Mariana Parks (John Hamer), Michael Putnam (Eva), Teresa Hunt (Geoffrey), and six grandchildren; Aren Putnam, Joe Putnam, Brandon Parks (Christine), Casey Parks, Carly Koczarski (Joe), Sidney Hunt and brother-in-law, Jim Tillotson, with whom he loved and shared great respect. He also leaves behind four great-grandchildren; Nathan Putnam, Taylor Putnam, Braden Gague and Marcus Koczarski. Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Major General Walter Bennett Putnam.

Joseph M. Putnam was born in Tulsa Oklahoma on October 19th, 1925 to Walter, a railroad man, and Ada Keers Putnam. His beloved mother was born in England, but emigrated to the United States as a child, with her Mother and four sisters.

He and Jayne Alice celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on December 1, 2011.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Joe enrolled in Oklahoma A. & M. University, receiving his degree in Civil Engineering. His working career was spent with Phillips Petroleum Company, supervising construction of facilities in Texas, California, Canada, Belgium, and England (where he worked and lived on a drilling platform in the North Sea.) Puerto Rico was his last job as a construction supervisor. His final position was in his company’s home office in Bartlesville, Oklahoma as a Construction Manager. After his retirement in 1985, Joe and Jaynie moved to Useless Bay Colony on Whidbey Island. Joe loved gardening, fishing and winemaking and never gave up on the Seattle Mariners.

Joe loved sports of any kind. He played football in high school and at Oklahoma State University until he joined the Navy. But golf was always his “true love.” Twenty-four of the last years of his life were spent living across the street from “his” golf course, Useless Bay, where he was able to play countless games, with many friends. During this time, he proudly made two holes-in-one. This last year, he spent time teaching his four-year-old great-grandson how to hold, and use a putter.

Joe will be remembered as a true gentleman, of the “Old School”. His love and devotion to his wife and their children was absolute, as was their love for him.

The family is overwhelmingly grateful for the wonderful care Joe received from Providence Hospice during the last few weeks of his life.