Claude Russell (Russ) Joyner, 80, of Vero Beach, passed away on Friday, April 3rd, 2009, at Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach.
Russ was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, on August 3rd, 1928. He had been a resident of Vero Beach for the past 23 years, coming from Spring Grove, Virginia. He also resided in Ahoskie, North Carolina, for many years.
Prior to moving to Florida, Russ was a real estate broker, as well as a land surveyor & timber appraiser for well-known companies such as Union-Camp Paper Company (Lumber Division), Georgia-Pacific, Gray Lumber Company, and others. He was a real estate broker & co-owner with his wife, Sheila, under Greystone Realty Company. After moving to Florida, he worked for Hoyt Murphy Realty in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. Russ was a rural postal carrier for the Sebastian Post Office for 19 years before he retired in 2003.
Russ was a Veteran aviator & paratrooper in the Army-Air Corps during World War II, serving in the Pacific with the 11th Airborne Division, better known as MacArthurs Angels. He was a paratrooper instructor while stationed in Japan. He was a licensed pilot for nearly 62 years.
Russ is preceded by his brother James Joyner; his sister Beatrice Vaughan; and parents Clifton H. and Blanche Butler Joyner, all of Walters, Virginia.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 38 years, Sheila Mason (Utley) Joyner; sons C. Richard Joyner and C. Russell Joyner, II, both of West Palm Beach, Florida; Anthony Woods of Lafayette, Louisiana; daughters Rebecca Joyner-West of Cape Coral, Florida; Paula Dawn Guidry of Youngsville, Louisiana; Teresa Kaye Joyner-Balding of Conway, Arkansas; and Lori Michelle Loomis of Belmont, New York. Russ was also the proud grandfather of 25 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can provided the local food pantry.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM at Seawinds Funeral Home Chapel Sebastian, Fl.
Condolences may be sent to Seawindsfh.com/obit.php