Joseph "Joe" Francis O'Brien

Joseph “Joe” Francis O’Brien, 80, passed away Sunday, August 3, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia surrounded by family and friends. He was born August 30, 1944, the youngest of 7 children in Vanceboro, Maine, the son of the late Chester D. & Velma M. (Grass) O’Brien. Joe graduated from Vanceboro High School in June of 1962 and joined the United States Navy the very same month. Thirteen years after high school, he earned his BBA in just 3 years from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

Joe had a strong work ethic and passion for life and travel.

At 10, he mowed yards to earn money for a new bicycle (and stylish clothes). Joe had a long tenure in management for Bellsouth (AT&T) and retired in 2002 at 58.

Joe was a stylish dresser in his youth, known to wear plaid pants and bright colors. Sunflowers were his favorite flowers. In high school, he loved to dance, and the girls thought he was quite the dancer. Joe collected rooster and Santa Claus figurines and was especially proud of his two dragon tattoos. Joe had a vivid soul with a memorable personality.

in 1970, eager to see the world, he traveled for 3 months visiting Europe, Egypt, and India. Later in his lifetime, he visited Russia, China, Australia, and South America among other countries. In his domestic travels, he sought out county, state, and national fairs and festivals.

In Joe’s travels, a weekend trip to Atlantic City with a group of friends turned into a life-changing encounter. While on the Boardwalk, Joe and his friends happen to meet Don (who may or may not have already spotted them on the Boardwalk). They invited him to a casual dinner at McDonald’s (specifically a #1 value meal). While at dinner, Joe shyly invited Don for a stroll on the Boardwalk. From that moment their lives were one, together.

Joe and Don moved to Atlanta in 1979 with a dream to open their own piano and organ retail store. They were unsuccessful in starting a business but found their current home in Atlanta, a dilapidated house that they restored together, doing all the work themselves.

Joe loved working in the yard and he and Don are well known in their neighborhood.

Joe is survived by his husband of 53 years, Donnie “Don” G. Newby, formerly of West Middleton, Indiana; sister, Clarice (Frank) Bettencourt, Sacramento, California; Maxx, his miniature schnauzer; and a large extended family of nieces and nephews. Joe is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Eugene “Pippin” O’Brien; Colby O’Brien; Eddie O’Brien; Martha Fish; Patsy O’Brien; and mother & father-in-law, Loren and Ruth Newby.

Funeral services celebrating Joe’s life will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday August 16, 2025, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, Indiana. Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 12 noon until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. The funeral service will be viewable via webcast at the time of the service on Saturday on Joe’s obituary page at https://www.stoutandson.com, where messages of condolence may also be left. Memorial contributions may be made to the Human Rights Campaign, www.give.hrc.org. Stout & Son Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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