Joseph Adda Obituary

Joseph F. Adda Jr., aged 90 years, of Ringoes, N.J., died peacefully on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at his home. Funeral services will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Flemington, N.J. Interment will follow in Amwell Ridge Cemetery, Larison's Corner, N.J. Visitation will be on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the funeral home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences. Born on Nov. 15, 1922, on Staten Island, N.Y., Joseph attended school at P.S. 14 with his good friend, Howard Brower; it was the last one room school in the Greater New York City school system. Here, he started his love of all things mechanical by fixing the pencil sharpeners. Joe graduated from New Dorp High School on Staten Island. He was a Rutgers University "Aggie" and graduated in 1945. While there, he met his wife, Anna, and they shared 65 years of marriage and dairy farming. Joe and Anna were inducted into the Holcombe-Jimison Farmer Hall of Fame in June 2013. They also shared an interest in Colonial America and spent many years building and restoring their farmhouse. Their farm was noted for its scenic beauty. Joe especially love planting and caring for large trees. Joseph was a fireman, railroad car letterer and sign painter for the Black River & Western Railroad, and served as the mayor of Hogtown. He and his children also performed with the Black River Gang. In later years, he played on DVR Radio's "Heartland Hayride." Joe drove a school bus for over 20 years and many students fondly remember riding "Old Four" on Scenic Route 6. He loved fixing machines of all kinds, the largest being a Bulldog Mack Truck. The favorite family pastime was sitting around the kitchen table enjoying good conversation, spinning tales, eating anything with raisins in it and drinking hot cocoa. Joe was a longtime member of the United First Presbyterian Church of Amwell at Larison's Corner, where his harmonica playing will be sorely missed. We will miss you, Grandpop. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Violet Helwig Adda; a sister, Thelma; his wife, Anna, and a daughter, Christine. He is survived by a son, Joseph F. Adda III of Waterford, N.J.; a daughter and son-in-law, Joanne Adda Lawrence and husband, John, of Kemblesville, Pa.; a granddaughter, Elizabeth of Kemblesville, Pa.; a grandson, John and his wife, Rebecca, of West Grove, Pa., and two great-granddaughters, Sara and Julia of West Grove, Pa. Memorial contributions may be made to the United First Presbyterian Church of Amwell at Larison's Corner, P.O. Box 348, Ringoes, N.J. 08551.