Joseph Coleman Livingston

Joseph Coleman Livingston, 79, a loving person and generous man passed away on March 4, 2022, in Fredericksburg, VA where he and his wife, Gail Lynn Livingston, have made their home since 2003. Joe, as he was known by everyone who knew and loved him, was born on November 30, 1942, to Ruth and Dwight Livingston. He and his sister, Judy Livingston Leitz were raised on Lake Erie where Joe’s love of boating and the water was first cultivated.

As a young Army ROTC Cadet, Joe met Gail in high school and courted her through their college years, his at Bowling Green and hers at Edinboro University. After graduation, Joe was commissioned into the United States Army and the couple were married on June 20, 1964. Joe and Gail have three children, Kristin Ann Coron, Jay Foster Livingston, and Keith Warren Livingston.

Joe was a devoted person, faithful and dedicated to his family and his country. After the birth of their first child, Joe served two tours in Vietnam as a Military Intelligence Officer performing aerial reconnaissance missions for the US Army. As a young Captain, Joe learned to utilize many of the 14 military leadership traits, but two of them came to him naturally – Dependability and Integrity. His honesty, truthful words and actions made others trust his integrity. His ability and drive to not just complete any task assigned, but to complete each task well gave others assurance that they could depend on him.

At the end of his second tour, he returned to his young family and continued his military career which spanned 28 years, stationed in five beautiful places including Baltimore, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia; Omaha, NE; Heidelberg, Germany and finally, back to the DC area where he completed his final assignment at the Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in 1992. Each assignment enriched their lives through added friendships and many opportunities to see and experience the world.

After retiring from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Joe enjoyed a successful and gratifying second career as a life insurance agent with New York Life. Additionally, as his children grew, he refined his parenting skills which included repairing dry wall (boys’ feet through walls), rebuilding automobiles (including the 1972 MGB he bought brand new eventually wrecked by all 3 children), and coaching and cheering on his children through numerous sports and extra-curricular activities. By the time his children were grown, there wasn’t anything Joe couldn’t repair, build, grow, love or nurture. He was great at everything he put his mind to.

After his second retirement, Joe and Gail cultivated their love of being on the water. They purchased their first boat, the Gail Lynn, which Joe appropriately named after the love of his life and first mate. After several years cruising the Occoquan, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay they purchased the Gail Lynn II. Through their yachting adventures they met many hearty souls, made some great friends, and floated into some amazing ports. Joe’s natural ability to lead landed him on several boards including the Occoquan Yacht Club (OYC), the Potomac River Yacht Club Association (PRYCA), the Occoquan River Maritime Association and the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association and he served as Commadore of both the PRYCA and OYC.

Joe loved his ever-expanding family and welcomed each new member, beginning with his children’s partners: Jeff Coron, Janice Lee Livingston, and Maltianna Hahn Livingston. The blessings continued when his 4 grandchildren came along: Emily Coron Steele (Jason Steele), Caroline Coron, Alex Livingston, and Miles Livingston. But with Joe, you don’t have to be family to feel like family. Just about everyone who met Joe came to know him as a kind-hearted person who welcomed a good conversation, a shared experience, or just quiet time together. Or, better yet, playing 18 holes of golf, a game of cribbage, a round of Zap (think dice), dominoes, or any game he stood a chance of beating you at.

Joe enjoyed life, he was dedicated to his family and friends. Life wasn’t always easy, but he faced it head on and took control of the things he could, and accepted the things he couldn’t. He touched many lives, and even though he is now with our Father in Heaven, he will always remain in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Joe will be laid to rest at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2022 in Arlington National Cemetery 

A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall of FUMC immediately after the service. The family invites you to – come share a light meal and memories of your favorite times spent with Joe. If you can’t be with us in person, the service will be shown on Zoom. Use this link to log in at 1:45 pm, or enter tinyurl.com/JoeLivingston into any web-browser.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, or any Veterans organization of your choosing.