Joseph Lee Erdley

Joseph Lee Erdley, 87, of Selinsgrove, passed away peacefully, Friday, May 8, 2026.

Joe was born on April 29, 1939, in Middleburg, a son of the late Milo and Florence (Yerger) Erdley. He started earning money, for his eventual first car, as a 12-year-old delivering newspapers on his bicycle. Joe continued earning money working at a gas station until graduating from Middleburg High School in 1957. He served in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1962 working as a mechanic. Joe worked as an HVAC repairman at Bilger and Sons for 14 years and later worked in the Maintenance Department at Wood-Mode for 25 years. Following retirement, Joe worked as a shuttle driver part-time for Susquehanna University for 12 years transporting students, faculty, and the President of the university.

Joe’s love of cars was demonstrated by the long list of vehicles he owned over the years; a Ford LTD, a Simca, his favorite Chevy Chevelle, plus ten trucks, seven motorcycles, and one snowmobile. Although he was not great at spelling, Joe was very mechanical and enjoyed repairing almost anything. A skilled carpenter, he built just about anything for family and others. Just give him a picture and dimensions, and in a matter of weeks he’d show up with a custom-built shelving unit, bedroom furniture, or country-style crafts. Joe was always happy to share his time and talents.

Joe was the undesignated mayor of any group – at church, in the neighborhood, at work, the hunting cabin, extended family, and any random group of people in any public place. He enjoyed getting to know people, building friendships and teasing people about anything to get a reaction. Later in life Joe carried around a joke list, getting a kick out of telling sorta good and sorta bad jokes. If you know, you know…lol! It was his way of interacting with people and showing them he cared.

Joe is survived by his wife, Connie, married two days shy of 40 years; his daughter, Alesia Foster (Steve), of New Columbia; a son, Tim Erdley, Lancaster; two step-sons, Corey Shaw (Laura), of Chambersburg, and Eric Shaw (Lane), of Cochranville; a sister, Mary Jane Hoover, of Shamokin Dam; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Bertha (Grammy) Brouse, of Selinsgrove; and three granddogs.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Erdley; and brother-in-law, Bob Hoover.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026, in the Social Hall at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Selinsgrove.

Donations in Joe’s memory can be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 400 N. Market Street, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, designated to Loaves and Fishes.