Joseph Bassford

Joseph D. Bassford, age 88, passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at Covenant Health Care - Harrison in Saginaw. Joe was born April 29, 1921 in East Aurora, New York, the son of the late Francis M. & Gertrude A. (Bates) Bassford. He graduated from high school in 1939 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following graduation, he came to Caro to live with his grandmother, starting work at the Caro Regional Center as an Attendant Nurse. Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in August of 1942 and was honorably discharged in October of 1945. On September 7, 1946, he was united in marriage with the former Marcia F. Gohs in Bay City. Joe continued his employment at the Caro Regional Center until his retirement in the early 1980s. He was a member of the Caro United Methodist Church and the Caro American Legion Post #7. For many years, Joe enjoyed driving school bus for both the morning and afternoon runs and school trips at Caro Community Schools as well as collecting stamps and coins. He loved to listen to music, and even became inspired in his later years to pick up his old violin to accompany his granddaughter on the piano. Joe is survived by his wife, Marcia Bassford of Caro; one son and his wife, Daniel J. & Janet (Osgerby) Bassford of Greensboro, North Carolina; three granddaughters and their spouses, Christine & Greg Harrell of Hickory, North Carolina, Catherine & Todd Papin of Huntersville, North Carolina and Laura & Joshua Meredith of Huntersville, North Carolina; six great-grandchildren; one brother and his wife, Philip T. & Catharine Bassford of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and many nieces and nephews.