The Honorable Joseph Wilson Carey, 90, formerly of Delphi, died peacefully on Dec 4, 2016 at his home in Fort Myers, FL.

Joe was born May 25, 1926 in Logansport, to the late Lawrence Daniel "LD" & Bess Wilson Carey of Monticello. He is a grandson of the late Joseph James Carey, of Potter County, PA, a Civil War Veteran who fought at Gettysburg. He was a 1944 graduate of Delphi High School, where he was a member of the band, orchestra, was student manager of the basketball & track teams, and was a member of the National Honor Society.

During his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and reported for active duty immediately following graduation. He served in the South Pacific as a signalman in the U.S. Navy Armed Guard assigned to a merchant marine tanker, supplying fuel oil to ships at sea. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. He graduated from Indiana University in 1950 with a BS degree in business, and received his LLB degree in Law in 1955. He was a member of the Beta Theta chapter of the Kappa Sigma social fraternity, where he was secretary, and a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

He was admitted to private practice law in 1953, and practiced in Lafayette for 27 years. His marriage was to Suellen J. Reynolds Carrell in West Lafayette, on Aug 14, 1977, and she survives. They moved to Indianapolis where he joined the legal department of AMAX Coal Co., in 1980. Joe returned to Delphi in January of 1991, after winning the election for Circuit Court Judge of Carroll County. Judge Carey served that position for Carroll County for 15 years.

Joe was a member of many organizations; BPO Elks #143, where he completed all the chairs and was a past Exalted Ruler; Lafayette Lions Club; Deacon at Central Presbyterian Church, Lafayette; Delphi Rotary Club; and the Lafayette Country Club. He was a member of the Indiana Judges Assoc., and the Indiana & Carroll County Bar Assoc. Joe was active with the Republican Party, serving as precinct committeeman, and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention, and as a State Chairman of the Indiana Young Republican Federation. He was an avid IU fan, and lifetime member of the IU Alumni Assoc. He also served as chairman of the IU varsity club of Tippecanoe Co., the site of Purdue University! Joe retired on Sept 30, 2006, and he and Sue began their next adventure together, moving to their home in Fort Myers, FL.

Joe enjoyed many great years of good health, fun activities, and wonderful friends in Ft. Myers. He enjoyed volunteering at Lee Memorial and St. Columbkille Catholic Church, and breakfast with his friends at Marty's and McDonald's.

Surviving with his wife Sue, a daughter Beth Ann & Bert Cooper, stepson-Kevin & Jennifer Carrell, stepdaughter-Leslie & Kirk Jenkins; grandchildren: Brandon, Nick & Logan Cooper; Jackie Carrell, Beverly Jenkins. Sister in law-Cleanne & Rich Sampson, brother in law-Mark Reynolds, and many caring nieces & nephews.

The family will receive friends in Judge Carey's former courtroom, Circuit Court, 3rd floor of the Carroll County Courthouse; Delphi, IN, on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016 from 1 p.m. until his memorial service at 3 p.m. Carroll County Honor Guard will be preforming Military Rites. Abbott Funeral Home, Inc., Delphi, in charge of arrangements.

www.abbottfuneralhome.com