Joe Benjamin Girt

Heaven received a special angel and heaven’s choir got a beautiful voice today, January 24, 2025. At 7:05 a.m. Joe Benjamin Girt, at 92 years of age, was a truly blessed Christian man. He was born in Anderson, Indiana on November 22, 1932, to Issac and Jennie Girt. As a teenager he moved to southern Indiana where he met the love of his life, Rosalie Gilham. Joe and Rose were married on August 25, 1952, in Butlerville, Indiana. They were married for an incredible 71 years until her death on August 4, 2023.

Joe held several jobs in this lifetime, retiring from  Arvin/Meritor Industries after 42 years. Upon his retirement, Joe found so much joy in being a greeter at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home in North Vernon for 20 years. Visitors commented on enjoying his conversations and his warm smile.

Joe attended the Nebraska Church of God where he held a variety of positions including Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, and Song Leader. Joe loved to share God’s word in song and now he has joined Heaven’s choir. He loved being with his children and their families. Joe also loved going to auctions and was know as “Dollar Joe” because the auctioneers knew Joe would start the bidding at one dollar. He was an avid fisherman and loved his vegetable gardens. Joe and Rose enjoyed having and going to garage sales. Joe loved to watch MASH, sports, game shows, and Judge Judy.

Joe and Rosalie had three children, Benjamin (Vickie) Girt of North Vernon,  Peggy (Brian) Fisher of Oxford, North Carolina, Mark (Linda) Girt of North Vernon; grandchildren, Christopher (Danielle) Girt of Tennessee, Stephanie (Rex) Eaton of Michigan, Nichole (Mike) Campany, Katherine (Ben) Henry, and Ryan (Ashley) Stockdale, all of North Carolina, Amberly and Caleb Girt, both of North Vernon; great-grandchildren, Titus and Sophia Girt, Adelyn and Pierce Eaton, Gabe and Garrett Campany, Wil and Jacob Henry, and Emmerson and Owen Stockdale.

Joe was from a large family and was preceded in death by his parents, Issac and Jennie Girt; brothers, Roy Paul, James, Robert, Thomas and Floyd; sisters, Elizabeth Chapin, Ethel Neeley, Naomi Summers, Ruth Speedy, Sarah Meeker, Linnie Kirby, and Pearl Butchie. Joe was the baby of his family. He has several nieces and nephews. Also, survived by sister in laws, Kathrine Olds and Dorothy Pittman.

The visitation will be held at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home in North Vernon on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at Nebraska Church of God on Thursday, January 30, 2025, with visitation at 9:00 a.m. and services at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Otter Creek Cemetery, next to his loving wife, Rose.

Memorials may be made in honor of Joe through the funeral to Nebraska Church of God.

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