Joseph Sheridan VannAusdall

Joseph Sheridan Vann Ausdall joined his beloved wife, Florence, on September 1, 2011. He died in his home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with his daughter, Cynthia VannAusdall, by his side. Joe was born July 31, 1920, in Oil City, Venango County, PA, to Henrietta Wiles and James H. VannAusdall, both deceased. His first great-grandfather, John C. VannAusdall, was one of the oil pioneers coming to the area in about 1860. He was raised in Oil City with his siblings, Johnny and Jim VannAusdall, Kate Gustafson, Loretta Orsino, Laura Cramer, Eileen Lang, and Bobbie McFadden, all deceased. Joe and Florence were married on December 9, 1942 at the Christian Missionary Church in Franklin. Joe served in WWII with the 28th Division, 112th Infantry. On D-Day plus 6, he landed on Omaha Beach. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge and throughout the European Theater, earning the following medals: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Ribbon, Europe/Africa/Middle East Ribbon, Army Occupation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Q-Bar-Mechanic Ribbon, and Q-Bar-Rifleman Ribbon. He went on to serve 25 years in the Army and retired as a Sergeant First Class/E7. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Florence, and their children, Cynthia and Joseph. When they retired from the Army, they settled in Alamogordo, New Mexico for 35 years and later relocated to Kentucky in 2005. His son, Joseph and his wife, Kathleen Smith, still reside in Alamogordo. In addition to his children, Joe is survived by nieces and nephews, and a special family friend, Alicia Schram, Geneva Cassidy, Venita Portman, Dawn Vogel, and Tiffany Lopez. Family and friends of Joe will be received at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA on Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon, with Rev. David Smith, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Funeral services will follow at 12 noon following visitation. Interment will follow at Grove Hill Cemetery in Oil City, where Joe will be buried next to his wife and mother. Condolences, cards and flowers may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.