Joe Franklin Hatfield left this mortal life Sept. 16, 2023, in Vancouver, Washington. He was born Feb. 4, 1932, to Robert and Sylva Hatfield in Vancouver, joining brothers Jim and Doug, then growing up in Bucoda and graduating from Centralia High School in 1950.
Joe joined the Navy during the Korean War, serving as an engineman on an LST. After working at Boeing, being a Centralia police officer and owning Goode's Custom Cannery, he retired from Centralia Mining Co. in 1994.
Joe married Shirley Lathen in 1956, and they celebrated 55 years of marriage before her passing in 2011. He enjoyed camping, hunting, clamming, the Mariners and Seahawks, and his delicious divinity at Christmas was shared with many friends and family. Music was a huge part of Joe's life — singing, playing the guitar, and playing the long chord harp in several harmonica groups.
Joe is survived by his sister, Mary (Dana Williams); daughters, Linda (Robert Southern) and Annette (Don Rowe); grandchildren, Claire, Jordan, Isabel Southern and Evan Rowe; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Please join us for a potluck to celebrate memories of Joe from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Fords Prairie Grange, 2640 W. Reynolds Ave., Centralia, Washington.
