Joseph Dodds

Joseph Dodds, Jr. age 83, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

The elder son of Joseph and Ruth (Seiberlin) Dodds, Joe was born in Paterson and raised in Wayne at the family homestead located at 864 Ratzer Road. He was a graduate of the original Wayne High School Class of 1959, where he excelled at football and baseball. During his high school years Joe was also a talented competition ice skater, earning him the Silver Skates award after placing first in a skating competition at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

After high school, Joe worked a variety of jobs before establishing a career as an owner operator of his own trucking business based in Wayne, NJ. He owned two eighteen wheelers with which he typically hauled cargo from Pennsylvania to New York City and Newark, NJ. Later Joe moved his business to Florida where he primarily hauled paper for recycling. Eventually he sold his trucking business to pursue a new adventure as a restauranteur. Joe was the owner of Darby’s Pub in Brandon, FL – a popular spot on Friday and Saturday nights for many years.

Joe was a devoted sports fan and active community member. While raising his two sons and daughter in Wayne, NJ, he served as a head coach for the Wayne PAL for 15 years. Coaching his sons in football and baseball was a source of considerable pride for him. He also loved golf and never missed an opportunity to play eighteen holes, particularly with his sons. Joe also enjoyed watching sports as much as he enjoyed playing – especially football. When his granddaughter Kirsten began attending the University of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish became his favorite team to cheer for—second only to the New York Giants.

Way before it enjoyed popular acclaim, Joe was a country music fan. He enjoyed listening in his truck, to classic artists like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, but he appreciated modern country music as well. One of Joe’s other favorite pastimes was an evening at home watching a good old classic western.

More than anything else, Joe enjoyed his family, and treating his grandchildren to a nice cash gift on their birthdays and Christmas gave him much joy.    

Joe was the loving father of: Michael Dodds of Tahoe City, CA, Kolleen “Kelly” Gibson of Lawrenceville, NJ, and Kevin and wife Christine Dodds of Wayne; cherished grandfather of: Lena, Elize and husband Todd, Colin, Kirsten, Kyle and Kai; dearest great-grandfather of Sage and Rider; dear brother of William and his wife Cheryl Dodds of Longmont, CO; and dear uncle of Christine and husband Greg, and Casey and wife Kim.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joseph’s name are asked to consider:

American Foundation for the Blind

Attn:  Gift Processing

1108 Third Avenue, Suite 200

Huntington, WV 25701

Please make your check payable to American Foundation for the Blind and indicate that it is in memory of Joseph Dodds.