Courtesy of Cathy Clark
The Washington Times-Herald
Mon Jul 07, 2008
Joseph L. Haskins
ODON -
Joseph L. Haskins, 81, died at
6:20 a.m. Sunday at his
residence.
Born Sept. 6, 1926, in Pike County,
he was the son of Byron and Bessie (Capehart) Haskins.
He was a
former owner/operator of Haskins Feed Mill and Litter Company. He served two
terms as county commissioner and was state president of the Indiana Association
of County Commissioners; served as Republican precinct committeeman for
approximately 20 years; served on the board of governors of the Daviess
Community Hospital for 20 years and was the president from 1984 to 1991. He and the board made
several significant improvements, along with bringing professional management
to the hospital during his tenure. He has been recognized for all his hard work
and recently received a special thank you from the CEO.
Haskins
was instrument in the development of the town of Odon. He was one of the first
sponsors of the Odon Little League program, co-sponsor of the fund raising
drive that provided much needed communications system improvements for the Odon
and Madison Township Fire Departments and assisted in the establishment of the
Odon Housing Corporation, provider of affordable, modem housing for the
elderly. Some years after the establishment, the Odon Housing Board was having
financial difficulty. He stepped in as president and under his direction and
leadership turned it around to a profitable business within five years.
Realizing
that there was a dire need in the Odon community for a modem health care
facility, he became the driving force behind the establishment of the North Daviess
Medical Clinic, along with John Myers and Amos Stoll. Haskins was instrumental
in the support and improvement of the Odon community with his and his wife's
generous donation of five acres of prime real estate to the Parkview Assisted
Living project.
He was a
member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, Shriners, Loyal Order of the
Moose, Elks, 4-H Adult Leader, Kentucky and Indiana Historical Society and
Society of Indiana Pioneers which certifies that his family settled in Indiana before
1825.
He was a
recipient of Odon Business and Professional Association's 1991 ''D.M. Hayes
Community Service Award,"
1988 Sagamore ofthe Wabash Award appointed by the governor and Transportation Committee
Award from the governor. He received special recognition for his travel to
Russia in 1988, sponsored by Purdue University, to promote brotherhood and
understanding and building of friendship of the two countries. He is listed in
the 1993-1994 Marques Who's Who for "demonstrating outstanding achievement
in his own field, contributing to the betterment of the community."
A member
of Odon First Christian Church, his
foremost interest was in his family's genealogy. The Sons of the Revolution
recently recognized him for his hard work in restoring the Haskins /Mt. Eden
Cemetery.
He is
survived by his wife, Betty (Bateman) Haskins, whom he married April 27, 1945;
daughters and son-in-law, Cheryl Haskins Campbell of Bloomington, Nancy and Bob Herstine
of Greenwood; sons and daughter-in-law, Steve Haskins of Camby and Mark and
JoDee Haskins of Lincoln, Neb.;
nine grandchildren, John,
Leigh, J.D., Kathy, Heather, Joe,
Mark Allen, Bridget and Amber; nine
great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Delores Haskins
and William and Marie Haskins, all of Washington.
He is
preceded in death by one grandson, Adam
Trueblood. Four brothers, Harry, Robert, Cameron
and Ivan Haskins, are also deceased.
The
funeral will be at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at Odon First Christian Church, with Bros. Jack Haskins and Richard
Smith officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Hill Cemetery.
Visitation is from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Preferred memorials
are to the American
Cancer Society. Arrangements are being
made through Poindexter-Hall and McClure
Funeral Home.
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