Joseph J. Devine, Sr.

Joseph J. Devine, Sr., 79, of Pottsville, died Saturday at home.

He was born October 18, 1928 in Pottsville son of the late William J. And Mary McMahon Devine.

He was a graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School.

In 1948 he began playing semi-pro baseball in the South Schuylkill League where he pitched for Palo Alto, in 1949 the league changed it's name to the South Anthracite League and he pitched for Port Carbon, in 1950 the league became the Suburban League and he pitched for Seltzer City. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served two years, resuming his pitching career in 1953 with the Pine Grove Hornets.

He was employed for 32 years by the former ALCOA in Cressona and Lebanon prior to retiring.

He was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, St. Clair Fish and Game, Mechanicsville Game and Fish and East End Hose Co., Palo Alto.

He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Josephine Galle on March 19, 1991: a sister, Elizabeth Snopek: 6 brothers, James, Thomas, William, John, Robert, and Dan. He is survived by 4 children: Barbara Straka and her husband Andrew, Pine Grove Area: Joseph J., Jr., Michael J. and his wife Patricia S. and Patrick J. and his wife Kelly A. all of Pottsville: 7 grandchildren, Jennifer Yourey and her husband Michael, Pottsville, Kelly Pacor and her husband Jonathan, Watertown, Massachusetts, Joseph M. Devine, Pottsville, Bryan J. And Brooke J. Straka, Pine Grove Area, and Kevin M. And Ryan P. Devine, Pottsville. A step granddaughter, Jennifer Shappell, Pottsville: a brother, Greg, St. Clair and his care giver, Mary Patricia Devine: Nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. from St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Tuesday evening from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and on Wednesday morning from 9:00 A.M. till the Time of Mass. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions made to St. Patrick Memorial Fund, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville. James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, is in charge of arrangements.