McDowell County WV Archives Obituaries............Joseph Thomas Diviak 2009 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ellen Diviak Nelson and Barbara Diviak April 2009 Joseph Thomas Diviak May 5, 1915 - February 24, 2009 Joseph Thomas Diviak, was the son of Yorsef Emory Diviak and Helena Mary Kalny, both of Bursky Miklos, Czechoslavakia,. His siblings were Teresa Diviak Katusich , Mary Helen Diviak Stress, Anna Julia Diviak Szapo, Helen Pauline Diviak Levenson, Julia Diviak Schaeftlein , John Rudolph Diviak, Josephine Diviak Mixon. Surviving is his youngest brother, Stephen Victor Diviak of Ohio. Born in Old Caretta, West Virginia, Joseph Thomas Diviak spent his first eight years in coal mining towns. He moved back to Caretta with his parents in 1923. He worked in a shaft mine on the night shift while going to Big Creek High School during the day. After graduation in 1935 he served in the Army Air Corps for nine years as an Aircraft Radio Operator at Chanute Field, Illinois and later as an Instrument Flying Instructor in Coffeeville, Kansas. He retired after 25 years in Civil Service at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas in the Electronics Division. He later moved to the Hill Country near Austin, Texas. His wife of 45 years, Nona LaRue Cummins Diviak died in 1985. Papa Joe, as he was known to his children, had three daughters: daughter Helen LaNona Diviak, deceased; daughter Ellen LaRue Diviak Nelson and husband Hubert Nelson of Anderson, Texas, granddaughter Wendy Osburn and husband Kelly Osburn of Celina, Texas with greatgrandchildren Amanda, Kyle, Victoria, Luke and Jake Osburn and great great granddaughter Sydni; grandson Brooks Nelson and wife Kimberley Nelson with greatgrandchildren Jackson and Presley Nelson; and daughter Barbara Jean Diviak, Austin, Texas. The last 22 years he lived in Philadelphia, PA with his second wife, Ruthie Horton Diviak and stepdaughter Jackie Horton Gwyn, husband Hap Gwyn and granddaughter Laura and grandson Ian, all of Philadelphia. He loved saltwater and freshwater fishing, whether it was catfish, trout, flounder, or bass. In later years, he enjoyed league bowling, writing letters, and traveling. He was in the Class of 1935 at Big Creek High School, West Virginia. From: Daughters Ellen Diviak Nelson and Barbara Diviak h_enelson@mssblue.net