Loving husband, father and grandfather
Dr. Joseph G. Wihbey, 84, of Middlebury passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital VITAS on Sunday, May 10, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Barbara (Norman) Wihbey.
Dr. Wihbey was born in Waterbury Nov. 15, 1930, a son of the late George and Lillian (Namnoum) Wihbey. He was a graduate of Crosby High School, Class of 1948; Fairfield University, Class of 1952; and Fordham University, where he received a master’s degree in 1953. In 1957, he received his medical doctorate from Georgetown University. He proudly served his country as a captain in the U.S. Air Force as a base surgeon and flight surgeon in both France and England from 1959 to 1961. After completing his residency in surgery at Waterbury Hospital, he began his private surgical practice in 1964 and continued until his retirement in 2000, retiring as the hospital’s chief of staff and former chief of surgery. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of American College Surgeons and New Haven Medical Society. He also was a member of the Country Club of Waterbury, and P.G.A. National Country Club of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Middlebury as well as St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Besides his wife, Barbara, of 55 years, Dr. Wihbey leaves his children, Jean Wihbey, Ph.D. of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Joan W. Papa of Jupiter, Fla., and Michael J. Papa of Waterbury; Linda T. Wihbey, Esq. and her husband, John Pickering, of Waterbury; Laura Wihbey Conway, A.P.R.N. and her husband, P.J., of Prospect; Joseph G. Wihbey Jr. and his wife, Dana, of Litchfield; and Christopher J. Wihbey Sr. and his wife Nefra of Wolcott; 10 grandchildren, Taryn Papa of Nashville, Tenn.; M. Christian Papa of Seabright, N.J.; Jillian Papa of Waterbury;, Joseph G. Wihbey III, Natalie Wihbey and Peter Wihbey, all of Litchfield; Patrick Conway and Adam Conway, both of Prospect; Christopher Wihbey Jr. and Brayden Wihbey, both of Wolcott; two sisters-in-law, Adele Wihbey of Waterbury and Noreene Ebeling of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and a brother-in-law, George Norman of Watertown. He was predeceased by his siblings, Sadie George, John Wihbey, Francis Wihbey, Rev. William Wihbey, Edward Wihbey and Doris Wihbey.
The funeral will be Wednesday, May 13, at 9 a.m. at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home at 430 Chase Parkway to St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial with full military honors will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Watertown. Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to Carolyn’s Place, 137 Grandview Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708.
For more information or to send e-condolences, visit www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com.
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