Joe Wampler

Larry Joseph  (Joe) Wampler

Joe Wampler died peacefully on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Hospicare in Ithaca, NY. Cause of death was cancer of the gallbladder and biliary duct.

Born April 21,1951, in Mattoon, IL, to Bill and Joan Wampler, Joe grew up on the family farm outside Toledo, IL.

He graduated from Cumberland County High School in 1969, then served in the U.S. Army from 1970-1972.

After completing the pre-engineering program at Lakeland Community College in Mattoon, Joe transferred to the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he earned his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1978.  As a degreed engineer, Joe worked at MicroSwitch (a Honeywell division) in Freeport, IL, for 9 years, then for Ithaco Space Systems in Ithaca for 25 years.

Joe is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan Kiner; his son Steve Wampler (Amanda Perl) of Portland, OR; his daughter Meg Archer of Noblesville, IN, and four grandchildren:  Darwin Gutierrez, Audrey Perl, Charlotte Perl, and Rory Wampler. Also surviving are Joe’s brother Ed Wampler (Gail), cousin Margaret Blythe, nephews Jeff Wampler (Eryn Lucic), Lee Wampler (Alyssa), and niece Laura Roley (Justin).  He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Tom Wampler.

Family and friends will miss Joe’s practical approach to life, his wry humor, and his dependable support.

We celebrate his life, lived with courage, integrity, and kindness.

Funeral service for Joe Wampler will be on Saturday, September 14, at 1 p.m. at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 W. Main St., Dryden, NY.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be directed to Hospicare, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.