Hornell, New York
Joseph M. “Joe” Dropp – 75 – of 6660 Laine Rd., Hornell (Town of Hornellsville), died Saturday evening (January 28, 2023) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, following a long illness.
Born in Hornell on January 7, 1948, he was the son of Joseph & Rita (Harrington) Dropp.
Joe grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1966). Following high school, he served for two years as a member of the US Army and was stationed in Vietnam for a year during the Vietnam Conflict.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Joe returned to the Hornell area and began his career with the railroad. For over 30 years, he served as a plumber & carpenter foreman for the former Erie Railroad, Erie-Lackawanna Railroad and Conrail. He later served in the security department of the former Morrison-Knudson (MK) and later Alstom Corporation. Throughout the years, Joe also worked part time as a barber for Angie’s Barber Shop in Hornell.
He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church and later St. Ann’s Church. He was also a member of the Hornell VFW and the Hornell American Legion.
Joe was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting (deer & small game) and fishing (streams). He also loved his time spent working outdoors — doing yard work, mowing and cutting trees. He was skilled mechanic & carpenter and could fix just about anything.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Gerald “Jerry” Dropp and Thomas “Tom” Dropp; his sister, Patricia “Pat” Dropp; and his granddaughter, Hannah Elizabeth Rose Logan.
He was married on June 29, 1969 to the former Mary Ellen Crandall who survives. Also surviving are 4 daughters, Debra “Deb” (Phil) Logan of Almond, Colleen (David) Brownell of Hornell, Bridgett (Peter) Galfusz of Williamsburg, VA and Erin (Bil) Panter of Henrietta, NY; his brother, Michael (Patrice Campbell) Dropp of Cortland; his sister, Rita Elizabeth “Liz” Ramsey-Dropp of Warren, PA; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.
The family of Joseph M. “Joe” Dropp will receive friends on Friday from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. The US Army will conduct Military Honors at the conclusion of calling hours at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Joe’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
In recognition of Joe’s service to his country as a member of the US Army, the American Flag at the Dagon Funeral Home will be flown at half-staff.
So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing! he was always delightful at the gate at MK and Amerial! He could always put a smile on my face! RIP dear friend! Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Sorry for your loss!
My condolences to the family from a HHS classmate. Prayers and blessing!
Condolences to Joe’s family. He was one of the good guys. May he R.I.P.
I was saddened when hearing of Joe’s passing. My sincere sympathies to all of Joe’s family. For many years I spoke with Joe on an almost daily basis. When talking to him he always had a way to make me laugh and change any bad mood into a good one. I lost touch with him when he retired but his cheerful personally and sense of humor were never forgotten. I was lucky to know him
joe and and his dad was the good ones they always had a contagios smile loved to help fix anything, even his dad had 1 arm he never complain fix fence ,shoot deer ,was extrodinary ,prayers ,they are missed
Dear Mary Ellen and family: I am so sorry reading this. Thinking of you and keeping you and your family in my prayers. Sorry I missed calling hours, I was in the hospital. God bless always
Kim Wood.