Joe Riley Haworth
Born: April 21st, 1930
Died: June 10th, 2011
Obituary
Joe Riley Haworth was born April 21, 1930 in Minco, Oklahoma, one of six children born to Almedia (Campbell) and George Riley Haworth. The family moved to Shafter when Joe was 4 month old and attended Shafter elementary schools and graduated from Shafter High School with the Class of 1949. Joe was honorably discharged from the US Army, serving during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953, stationed in Alaska. Joe and Ruby Violet Smith were married November 2, 1965 in Shafter. Joe worked as a truck driver for the family business, G.R. Haworth & Son Trucking and later was a truck driver and warehouse manager for Superior Farms. Joe loved watching and supporting the local sports, rarely missing a Shafter High football game or the Little League Baseball games. He was also an avid fisherman going to Lake Isabella, Lake Success, Lake Nacimiento or any mud hole beside the road. Joe was a member of the American Legion and the Seventh Standard Church of God, serving as Sunday School Superintendent for 13 years, church clerk and he also taught junior Sunday school for many years. Joe was very family oriented and loved being with his children and grandchildren. Joe is survived by his wife of almost 46 years, Ruby Haworth of Shafter; sons, Steven Haworth of Shafter and Rickard Haworth of Bakersfield; daughters, Frances Benson Haworth of Shafter, Vivian and husband Johnny Odom of Bakersfield and Terri Groves of Bakersfield; brother, Raymond Lee Haworth of Bakersfield; 8 grandchildren, 2 granddaughters that he helped raised, Violet and Blair Haworth; and 8 great-grandchildren. Joe was preceded in death by his son, Joe Riley Haworth, Jr.; grandson, Austin Riley Haworth; parents, George and Almedia; brothers, Jesse, Wesley and George; and sister, Mary Irene Blankenship. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, 550 Olive Drive, Build One, Bakersfield, CA 93308. A graveside service will be held Thursday, June 16 at 1pm at Shafter Memorial Park for Joe Riley Haworth, age, 81, of Shafter who passed away June 10, 2011 at home. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 15 from 4pm to 8pm at Peters Funeral Home.