Dr. Joseph Patrick Moran

Dr. Joseph Patrick Moran, age 83, of Hillsboro, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 at his home.

He was born Nov. 2, 1926 in Cincinnati, the son of the late Clarence Henry and Mildred Mary Heist Moran.

He attended elementary school at the St. Vincent DePaul Church in Cincinnati and moved to Hillsboro during his 7th grade year.  Joe was a member of the first-ever junior high football team in 1941.  He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1945 and at the age of 17 enlisted in the Army Air Force.  Joe served as a Corporal in the Army Air Force 460th Bomb Squad 333rd B GP from Feb. 16, 1944 to Dec. 3, 1946 as the crew chief on a B-29 Superfortress.  He was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II and served stints in Okinawa and Iwo Jima .  Following his honorable discharge from the military, Joe returned to Hillsboro .  He took a position at the former Boltz and Haggerty’s shoe store as a clerk, where he developed a great interest in the care of feet and recognized the need for a podiatrist to serve the community.  Joe was determined that podiatry would be his profession in

life.  He enrolled at the Ohio University for two years studying pre-med. After graduating from Ohio University he attended the Ohio College of Chiropody in Cleveland and graduated in 1953.  Joe returned to Hillsboro to set up his podiatry practice at 108 East Walnut Street and later moved to 237 East Main Street .  Joe was one of the first podiatrists to serve the rural areas of Ohio .  He was also one of the first podiatrists in the state of Ohio to be a member of the medical staff of a local

hospital.  Joe continued his podiatry practice until 2007.

Joe married the late Beverly Griffith on June 16, 1957 in Hillsboro; from that union came five children, Michael, Elizabeth, Thomas, Kathleen, and Susan.  Joe independently reared the children following Beverly ’s untimely death in 1970.  Twenty-four years later Joe married Eloise Martin Yochum on Dec. 14, 1994 in Hillsboro.  Joe traveled to China, Egypt, the Amazon, and throughout the US.  He was an excellent gourmet cook whose specialties included duck, fried chicken, chicken cordon bleu, and holiday fruit cakes. He was an avid fisherman, reader, and collector of marbles and beads.  He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hillsboro Rotary Club, the Alpha Gamma Kappa Professional Fraternity, and a founding member of the Hillsboro Jaycees in 1953.

Joe is survived by his wife Eloise Martin Yochum Moran; sisters, Mary Elizabeth Moran and Margaret Hudson, both of Hillsboro, and Emily (Dave) Morris of Cooperstown, New York; children, Dr. J. Michael

(Bettina) Moran of Lebanon, Elizabeth (Joe) Schuch of Batavia, Thomas Moran of Hillsboro, Kathleen Moran of Hillsboro, and Susan (Gregory) Rhoads of Hillsboro; step-children Michael (Sharon) Yochum of Hillsboro, and Mitchell (Pam) Yochum of Kernersville, N.C.; grandchildren, Benjamin Rhoads, Alex Rhoads, and Marissa Moran; several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he is preceded in death by a sister, Mary Delores Moran, a brother, Dr. Vincent S. Moran, and a niece, Mary Beth Morris.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hillsboro.  Father Mike Paraniuk will be the celebrant.  Burial will follow in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, where the Highland County Honor Guard will accord military honors. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 from 5-8 p.m. and Thursday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the Parrish Hall at St. Mary Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Catholic School, 119 East Walnut Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133; Highland County Humane Society, 9331 State Route 124, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133, or the Last Chance Corral, 5350 US 33 South, Athens, Ohio, 45701.

The Turner & Son Funeral Home is serving the family.  For more information and to sign the on-line register, please visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.