Chantilly, VA

Alexandria, VA

Joel Walter Gatewood Jr.

joel  gatewood

March 23, 1946 ~ May 17, 2023

Born in: Wayne, NE
Resided in: Burke, VA

Joel Walter Gatewood, Jr., 77, formerly of South Sioux City, Nebraska, died Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at his residence in Burke, Virginia, after a valiant 14-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Born March 23, 1946, in Wayne, Nebraska, Joe was the son of Joel and Helen (Small) Gatewood. In 1965, Joe graduated from South Sioux City High School.  After graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1969 with a degree in business administration, Joe joined the Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School.  He was commissioned an Ensign in April 1970.

Before heading to Pensacola to begin his military career, he stopped in Miami to ask Marcia Chase, the girl he dated since high school, to marry him.  They were married on June 27, 1970, at the Aviation Memorial Chapel in Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. To this union was born a daughter, Emily Ann, who wrapped her Dad around her finger from the moment he held her in his arms.

Joe received his wings as a Naval Flight Officer in October of 1970.  His first deployment was with the Sundowners (VF-111) F-4 squadron aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea.  He flew 319 combat missions in Vietnam where he was awarded an air medal with bronze star.  Joe was selected for the Navy Fighter Weapons School also known as “Top Gun” twice, in the F-4 Phantom and then in the F-14 Tomcat.  He was a flight instructor in VF-124, the F-14 training squadron at Naval Air Station Miramar.  He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Chapman College while stationed at Miramar.  Joe made two cruises as a Naval Flight Officer with the Screaming Eagles (VF-51) F-14 squadron on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk and the U.S.S. Carl Vinson.  During his Naval career, Joe, whose call-sign was Plug, logged 3,500 flight hours and made 732 carrier landings. 

In 1984, Joe was promoted to the rank of Commander.  He received orders to the Naval Air Systems Command, Air-to-Air Program Management office near Washington D.C.  In September of 1987, Joe was assigned to a classified joint USAF-USN program located at Eglin Air Force Base at Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Joe retired from the Navy with 21 years of service in 1990.

After retiring from the Navy, Joe worked for the Department of the Navy in foreign military sales.  His work took him to countries on six continents from 1990 until his retirement from the government in 2011.

Family meant everything to Joe.  Through all his work-related travels, he always managed to be home for every important event in his daughter’s life.   Joe’s faith was unshakable.  He was a member of the Messiah United Methodist Church where he faithfully made chili every month for a homeless shelter.  Since her birth, his granddaughter, Elizabeth, took hold of his heart and became the joy of his life.  Joe was a gentleman in every sense of the word.  Everyone who met Joe knew of his quick wit, easy going personality, optimistic outlook, and his kindness that had no boundaries.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years; his daughter Emily (Josh) Murray; granddaughter Elizabeth; sisters Jacklynn (Wayne) Petersen, Jeanne (Tom) Barnes; brother James Gatewood (fiancée Ruth); sisters-in-law Linda (Keith) Schuster, Carole (Wayne) Dinkins; and beloved nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Burial will be at the Omaha National Cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are pending.  In lieu of flowers please send donations to the United States Navy Memorial (navymemorial.org)

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  1. Dear Marcia,

    I am so sorry for your loss. I know that you and Joe were very close, and I can only imagine how much you are hurting right now.

    I never had the pleasure of meeting Joe, but I know that he was a wonderful husband and father. Marcia, you have always been such a happy and positive person, and I know that Joe was so lucky to have you in his life.

    I know that Joe will be sorely missed by his whole family and friends. He was a kind and loving man, and he will always be remembered for his smile and his sense of humor.

    Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.

    Sincerely,
    Patsy

  2. Remembering Joel doesn’t fit; knowing “Plug” speaks reality. I mean, we were always together one way or the other from the get-go with a lifetime in the Navy crammed into 15 years and all the small interludes after where we made time to together post-Navy when our job, geography, and families made it possible. I found Joel in 1972 when I got to VF-111 as a Nugget (new guy) RIO. Man, he already had flown several hundred Combat Missions; these guys in that squadron were serious varsity warriors and I was a freshman. He, Weigand, Gibson, Sattler, all at the tip of the sword. Plug, ever the mentor; shepherding us together to teach us new guys the ropes, how best to learn and use our machines; and how to keep us alive off and on the carrier. I became one of the best RIOs because of this man. Little could I have known then that 8 years later, after I received my pilot wings (transitioned from back seat to front) that Plug would take me aboard the carrier as my instructor for my first CQ and those all too serious first night traps. Joel was a gentleman in his manner always, and on that first night trap where I flew an excellent instrument approach to the ship, transitioned perfectly to the “ball” and flew a great visual the rest of the way to the deck doing a superb job of keeping the “ball” in the “middle (preferred); alas, until the very end where I let the “ball” sag ever so much and flew directly into the “1 wire” (not preferred). He didn’t say much right away, we cleared the “angle” and taxied forward to a spot to get gas (catch our breath) where Plug says very quietly and menacingly “don’t EVER do that again or I will kill you and they will NEVER find the body”. I became an excellent Carrier Aviator that moment going forward. We both had these fantastic wives, met them in Highschool, married them in College, had there relentless support with a very hard Navy job and with huge separations from each other. Marcia, I know how absolutely much you two were buddies first and foremost; Vera and I are the same. I have no words for the loss of Joel, your friend and confidant. I have no words. Plug and I would go on to be in the same Squadron twice (and Cruises) and instructors together no less. I was the first guy to get to see his new Triumph TR-7 sports car at the hanger the day he got it. We sat in it and oohed and aahed over it for like an hour. We played racquetball tons on shore duty; smacked him in the eye once with the ball and he wound up off flight status a couple weeks. Always my buddy as he covered the hurt eye socket and I said, “let me see”. So dutifully, he takes his hand away and geez I see that that pupil was way bigger than the other normal one. He says calmly “how does it look” and I say, “oh great no problem but you should let the Flight Surgeon check it out”. I felt like crap to be sure, but he would not let that stand; he always cared more about the other guy. We both bought protective eyewear the next day. We were roommates one cruise: grinding out the Cold War together. We had this similar thing where I would buy something, then he would too; then he would buy something, then I would too. Pens, letter openers, coffee cups, bags, etc. Then he got this beautiful little girl, Emily; so, I went and got one too, Jennifer. She is a doll, like you Emily, out in California thriving; and it hurts me so to think of you without your dad and Marcia without her buddy; knowing how much my daughter and Vera would grieve. Marcia and Emily, I know there is this massive void, and it is full of sadness and pain. You cannot really fix this and really time can’t either and you shouldn’t; because I know it is called the circle of life; meaning we stay connected always no matter what, continuously through all time. I know that’s how it works; you will always be together; this world and the next; depend on that. Our hearts are broken here; You, Emily, Elizbeth, and Joel will always be with us; in our prayers and our thoughts. Like I said, I don’t remember Plug; I know him. He is, not was, my hero, my mentor, my friend, my teacher, my cheerleader (except that one time), occasionally my banker, but mostly my true brother. I came to have a lot of brothers in Naval Air and he was the best; I cherished him. Sleep well Plug my brother; see you on the flip side.
    YOU ARE CLEARED TO CLIMB !

  3. I met Joe when we were both in AOCS at NAS Pensacola and kept in touch for years. We both were in the F-4 Phantom 2 but in different squadrons. I’ve added the poem below which honors Joe for his fantastic aviation career, his life and now he has touched the face of God.

    High Flight
    BY JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE JR.
    Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
    And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
    Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
    of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things
    You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
    High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
    I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
    My eager craft through footless halls of air ….

    Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
    I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
    Where never lark nor ever eagle flew—
    And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
    The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
    Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

  4. I remember when Joe and Marcia were stationed in San Diego. 1970’s they had me come down and stay with them during the summer. I had a great time. It was years later 2016 when Joe and Marcia came to see me and my husband in DC. When we had lunch together I told him I was retiring later that year. I guess he still remembered that little girl and said you can’t be old enough to retire! He will be missed.

  5. All of our love and prayers as you lay your beloved Joe to rest. We are grateful for his service to his country, but more so for his love of family and friends. We love you Marcia and pray God’s comfort and peace surround you.


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