Joseph R. Poland

Joseph (Joe) Poland, age 87, died peacefully on the evening of April 20 in Fountain Hills. Joe graduated from Maryville College, near Knoxville, Tenn. in 1951, where he was class president his second year, and student body president his senior year.

Joe acted in every school drama at Maryville, wrestled for the college all four years, losing only one match per year, and was named Who’s Who in American Universities his senior year at Maryville. Joe earned a postgraduate degree from the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania and became a CPA, a certificate he maintained until he died.

Joe travelled to nearly every country in the world in the 1950’s with RCA Corporation, and he lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for five years in his early 30s.

Joe was an avid athlete his entire life, playing softball in his 30s, 40s and 50s, and running four miles every day before lunch on workdays. Joe took up tennis in his 50s, and playing doubles tennis with his friends gave him immense pleasure over the years since.

Joe served as controller and as chief financial officer for several large corporations during his career. But his love for the Spanish language and knowledge of the US tax codes enabled Joe to help Spanish speaking locals with their tax filing each year. As only a tax accountant can understand, Joe’s involvement with local Arizonans in each of the past 22 tax seasons gave Joe great pleasure.

Joe believed in and loved the Lord Jesus Christ, read his Bible daily and served churches in Indianapolis, Denver, Nashville and in the Phoenix area faithfully until his death.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Poland; his son, Ric Poland and wife, Tracie Poland; grandchildren, Ethan Joseph Poland and Zachary Poland of Denver, Colo.; and by his brother, George Poland of Ballwin, Mo. In addition, Joe is survived by the three living of Carolyn’s five children who hold Joe in high esteem for the father figure he was tor each of them. They are Brett Spears, Laura Spears, and Dixie Lee Devinney.

A celebration of Joe’s life and of Joe and Carolyn’s 50th anniversary will be held at First Baptist Church of Fountain Hills on Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., followed by an informal gathering of all friends at the Poland's home 11011 N. Zephyr Dr. #106, Fountain Hills. For directions, call 480 560-0835.