Oliver Ollie W. Joiner, Jr.--In Memoriam

Ollie Joiner was my very first trombone teacher and band director. When I began learning trombone in the fall of 1956, I was 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. Back then, they didn't know that kids couldn't learn to play band instruments before 5th or 6th grade, so fully half of my 3rd grade class joined band! They also didn't know that you weren't supposed to mix 3rd graders and high school seniors, so they put the better players, irrespective of age, in the "Senior" band. I worked my way to 1st chair in the Senior band later that year. Leading this terribly ill-advised experiment in meritocracy was our school superintendent and band director, Oliver "Ollie" W. Joiner, Jr. He was a very enthusiastic and kind fellow, and I was sad that he left our school for another job in 1957. I also remember two of his kids, daughter Judi and son Billy, who was a trumpeter in the band.

Sometime earlier this year (2008), my mom found and sent me this obituary, which appeared in The Des Moines Register sometime in early Octobr of 2007:

Oliver "Ollie" W. Joiner Jr., age 91 of Monroe IA, died Thursday, October 4, 2007 at Hospice of Pella Comfort House.
Funeral services for Mr. Joiner will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Monroe United Methodist Church. Visitation for Mr. Joiner will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 one hour prior to the funeral service from 10 to 11 p.m. at the church.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of Pella Comfort House and online condolences may be made to www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
The son of Oliver W. and Alice (Burton) Joiner Sr., Ollie was born on April 16, 1916 at Nebraska City, NE. Ollie was a graduate from Nebraska City High School. On July 5, 1941, Ollie was united in marriage with Betty Knox at Rockport, MO. He proudly served his country during WWII as a member of the Army Air Corps, Eighth Air Force, 364th Fighter Group. After returning from Europe he attended Peru State College. Ollie later went on to attend Drake University where he received his Masters in Education. After starting his career as a band teacher, Ollie moved on to become Superintendent of Schools for 27 years. He spent thirteen years as Superintendent of the New Monroe School District.
His love for his country continued long after the war when he authored a book, which included a compilation of historical stories about the men and the mission of the 364th Fighter Group. He also served as the president, board member, and secretary of his fighter group association. Another of Ollie's passions was his love for music. While he was serving overseas during the war, Ollie formed "The Goldbricks," a dance band of enlisted men. Besides being and accomplished musician and cornet player, Ollie wrote and arranged music for bands across the country. Ollie was a member of the Iowa High School Music Association, American Legion, VFW, an the Christian Church of Griswold, IA.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Betty Joiner of Monroe, and his children: Judi McCright and her husband, Rex, of Omaha, Nebraska; O. W. "Bill" Joiner III and his wife, Jan, of Las Vegas, Nevada; Clay Joiner and his wife, Pam, of Moberly, Missouri; and Kris Ortale and her husband, Gary, of Coralville, Iowa; one sister, Thelma McIntyre of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his grandchildren: Robyn, Scott (Debbie), Lisa, Laura, Tony, Drew, Destiny, and O.W. "Blake" IV; two great-gradchildren: Brandon and Brycen; and many nieces and nephews. Oliver was preceded in death by his parents and six brothers and sisters.