Joseph 'Joe' Voci

Longtime Norman resident, Joseph 'Joe' Voci passed away on July 12, 2019 at age 96, following a brief illness.

Joe was born March 21, 1923 in Rome, New York to Luigi and Pasqualine Voci. Both of his parents immigrated from Italy while in their teens. Joe graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1943.

He married Helene Larsen on June 12, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. They were married for 49 years until her death on December 24, 2000.

He is survived by his 3 children, Joseph Jr., his wife Catherine and son Jimmy all of the Chicago, Illinois area, son Roberto of Norman, daughter Jolene Perham-Barnes, her husband Frank Barnes of Norman, and her son Christopher Perham, his wife Kimberley and their daughters Sadie and Chloey of Phoenix, Arizona.  He is survived by stepson Michael Riley, his wife Suzanne, and his three children Michael Jr., Kelly, and Joyce of the Rochester, New York area, along with a multitude of step great grandchildren.  Plus his two constant four legged companions, black Labradors Muggsy and Pup.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, sisters Theresa, Sandy, Connie, and Catherine; brothers Mario and Frank, an infant daughter, step daughter Patricia Guglotti and stepson James Riley.

He was an organizer for the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) before it's  merger with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1955. He continued his labor activities as a shop steward at Revere Ware  in Rome, New York.

In 1957 he went to work as a Civil Service Employee at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York.  In 1966 he transferred to Tinker Air Force base in Midwest City, and continued to work for the Air Force until his retirement in 1994. Joe took real estate courses and became a broker for Gundaker Real Estate in Norman.

He was an avid stamp collector, a hobby which he began at age 5 and continued with until his death. His other passion was horse racing, visiting tracks around the country, and spending many hours at Remington Park. He was a passionate University of Oklahoma fan, as well as a die hard Chicago White Sox fan. He could not believe he lived long enough to actually see the White Sox win the World Series in 2005.

He believed that a couple of factors to a good long life were oatmeal, an orange every day, and a shot of whiskey every night.

Farewell Joe, may your horses be swift, and your Whiskey smooth.

Services will be private.