November 15, 2020
1929-2020 ~ It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph Eso on November 15, 2020. Joe was born in 1929 in Vernon BC, the first child of Lucy and Joseph Eso.
He attended school in Vernon until the family moved to 琉璃神社 in 1945. As a teenager, Joe played hockey and basketball. After high school, Joe attended UBC, where he was one of the first members and an active alumnus for over 60 years of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduating in 1954, Joe moved to Revelstoke to begin his career in education.
He met and married Barbara Burton, herself a young schoolteacher, in 1956. Joe and Barb moved to Richmond in 1958, where he taught and coached basketball at Richmond High.
After a brief period as a District Counsellor, Joe became a school principal serving at Walter Lee, Mitchell and Garden City Elementary Schools. He was respected and admired by staff and parents alike for his integrity, dedication and passion for educating children.
Joe and Barb raised their three sons on Eckersley Road surrounded by their large circle of friends. Joe coached many of his sons' sports teams and enjoyed fishing with friends and family on their boat, Carina, spending many summers cruising the Gulf Islands.
Later, they welcomed their young grandchildren for extended visits every summer. After retirement, Joe and Barb moved to Churchill Park in Langley, where Joe initiated the maintenance committee, volunteered at the RCMP Community Policing office for over 20 years and enjoyed many rounds of golf.
They traveled extensively with friends and family before moving to the Hamlets in Vernon in 2018. The family would like to thank all of the staff there for their exemplary care of Dad.
Joe was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. We will forever miss his quiet, kind manner and quick smile. Joe is predeceased by Barbara, his wife of almost 64 years, and his brother Tom.
He is survived by his brother John (Polly) and his sister Elizabeth (Dennis), three sons Barry (Heather), Jim (Tracy), and Brian (Kelly), 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, with two more great grandchildren on the way.
He also leaves behind a large extended family and wide circle of lifelong friends. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Donations if desired to Alzheimer's Society of BC.