Joe Dolan, 89, of Clymer, was promoted to heaven on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Indiana Regional Medical Center with family by his side.
Born on July 2, 1937, in Rossiter, PA, he was the son of Joseph John Dolan, and Betty Rose “Pet” Wilson. Raised by his aunt, Annie G. Abbott, Joe was a life-long resident of Clymer.
Joe graduated from Clymer High School in 1955. After graduation, he worked briefly for his Godfather, Sam Capizzi, at Capizzi Coal Co., before enlisting in the Air Force in 1956. After basic training, Joe was enrolled in the intensive Russian language program at Syracuse University where he was trained in strategic intelligence and military terminology for Cold War operations. He was stationed in Darmstadt Germany with the 6911th Radio Group Mobile where he played a vital role during the Cold War by intercepting and monitoring radio communications of Soviet Air Force flights. Joe was honorably discharged in 1960 achieving the rank of Airman 1st Class.
After his military service, he worked briefly as a toll collector for the Pennsylvania Turnpike before starting his career with PennDOT District 10-0 where he worked as a Highway Designer for many years. He retired from PennDOT as Contract Manager in 1993.
He married Reneé Cupples on May 23, 1964, at the Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, VA. Joe and Renee raised two sons and spent 58 loving years together enjoying their children and grandchildren before her own promotion to heaven in July 2022.
Joe enjoyed a very active life with family and friends. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Clymer where he served as a Youth Group Leader with his wife Reneé. He was also a member of the United Methodist Men’s Group and the church Dart Ball League. Joe was a Past Master of the Indiana-Franklin Masonic Lodge No. 313. He was a member of the Clymer American Legion Post 222, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and a former member of VFW Post 1989.
Joe had a life-long and well-known love for softball and baseball. He started playing neighborhood baseball as a kid with boys often older than him. Joe “Junie” played Legion baseball and softball for the CS Rockets and Bence’s from 1952 to 1956 with his cousin Joe “Fat” Parana. He also played for Robertshaw in the 1970’s and the Clymer Methodist Church League in the 1980’s.
Joe’s many other interests and hobbies included fishing – especially for native trout, small game hunting, lawn care, gardening, civil war and WWII history, playing ping pong and pool with family, playing the guitar, Dobro, and harmonica, attending class reunions, watching Penns Manor and Penn State football, and figuring out his taxes. Joe would frequently be seen working in his yard and walking through town on a mission of some sort.
Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and a great friend.
Joe is survived by his two sons, Shaun Dolan and his wife Samantha of Indiana, PA and Eric Dolan and his wife Missy of Entriken, PA, his grandchildren Shaun Dolan, Jr. and wife Christina of Clymer, Misha Krayushkin and Ellah Dolan of Entriken, his great granddaughter Amelia Dolan of Clymer, brother-in-law Edward James Cupples of Rome, NY, his niece Audrey Cupples and son Jacob of White Plains MD.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife, and his brother Bobby Ray Wilson of Novi, MI.
Friends will be received on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the McCabe~Roof Funeral Home, 565 Franklin St., Clymer PA. A Masonic service will be held at 2 pm. Joe’s funeral service will be on Monday, September 7 at 11 am at the funeral home with Pastor Caleb Fugate, officiant. Interment will be made in Oakland Cemetery, Indiana, PA with Military rites by Clymer American Legion post 222.
Memorial donation may be made in Joe’s memory to Two Lick Valley Senior Center, 450 Franklin St., Clymer PA., 15728.
Online condolences may be made at www.mccaberooffh.com.
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