Joseph Marion Maricelli, 84, of Merryville, died Thursday, June 13, 2024.
He was born in Merryville. He graduated from Merryville High School in 1957. He was awarded a football scholarship to Northwestern State College (now NSU) in Natchitoches. He enrolled at NSC where he played football in the positions of fullback and halfback and joined ROTC. He was named All Gulf States Conference team while at NSC. He married Rosalind Jeans in July 1959. He graduated from NSC with a bachelor’s degree in 1962. Despite being recruited by the Canadian Football League, Joe joined the Army as an entry-level officer and was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia for basic training. While at Ft. Benning, he played for the Ft. Benning Doughboys, helping them win their conference championship in 1962. On a fluke, a friend asked him to take the test to be a pilot in the Army; he passed the test and was transferred to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for flight training. While at Ft. Rucker, he was then stationed in Augsburg, Germany.
When he was sent to Vietnam by the Army. While in Vietnam, he piloted both the DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, single engine planes used to carry personnel and supplies. After leaving the Army in 1967, Joe applied to Northwest Airlines as a pilot. He continued to be employed with NWA for 32 years before retiring in 1999 as a Captain on a 747. During his employment with NWA, Joe traveled worldwide, mostly to the Orient. While in Thailand, he was introduced to an orphanage which was run by the local Church of Christ. He continued to visit the orphanage when he traveled to Thailand. The Lone Pine Church of Christ still provides support for this orphanage.
Following retirement, he continued flying every opportunity. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in Lake Charles, for which he flew for almost ten years. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he logged in more than 25 flying hours surveying the catastrophic damages of cities, communities and towns.
Survivors include his wife, Rosalind Jeans Maricelli of Merryville; daughters, Sara Yvonne Grant and Mark of Natchitoches, Christine Midkiff and David of Many; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Joseph Neal Maricelli; parents, Ray and Florence Maricelli; and three sisters.
Funeral service was held Sunday, June 16, at Lone Pine Church of Christ in Merryville. Cary Cooley officiated. Burial followed at Meadows Cemetery in Merryville.
