Joseph Aloysius Trainor Jr.

Joseph Aloysius Trainor Jr, 92, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Joseph "Joe" was born on July 10, 1932, in Staten Island, New York, and was the son of the late Frances McNulty Trainor and the late Joseph Trainor. His story of being a survivor began in his early months when, stricken by pneumonia, his chances of pulling through were slim. But pull through he did.

As a young boy, Joe loved riding the Staten Island Ferry to the city. He often spoke of the nuns at his Catholic school and how they shaped his life. He also talked of the mischief (and trouble) he seemed to always find himself getting into.

As a man in his late teens, he enlisted in the Air Force and found himself stationed in Greenland with another recruit, Kenneth Howard. Ken had a picture of his lovely little sister that caught Joe's eye. He was instantly smitten. He asked Ken for permission to write her a letter. Ken gave his approval, and the letters began to flow. Eventually, after many written, thoughtful words, Joe and Ken's little sister fell in love.

When the stint at Greenland was up, Joe went to Charleston to meet Shirley in person. The lovely little sister welcomed him with open arms. Shortly thereafter, the two married. They remained the love of each other's lives for 68 years.

Joe again became a survivor when, right before the birth of his daughter, Joe was stricken with hepatitis and given a slim chance of survival. But, again, he survived and was discharged from the hospital the same weekend his daughter was born. Throughout life, he beat the odds by overcoming a myriad of health issues including multiple critical cardiac problems and cancer, but he always pulled through because of the love he had for his wife and family. That love made him invincible.

Joe was born and raised in the catholic church. As an adult and for most of his life, he was a member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church in North Charleston. At the time of his passing, he belonged to Aldersgate Global Methodist Church.

His time in the Air Force included serving during the Korean War and being stationed at places around the world. After he left the military, he became a civilian working for the Navy in aeronautic electronics. After retiring from the US Navy Air Control, he worked for Milcom Corporation until he decided to enjoy life at home with Shirley.

Joe loved to build things. He refurbished antique furniture and built new furniture. Toy rocking horses were his specialty. Because he was interested in growing things, as well, he built and maintained a greenhouse so he could learn about and grow a variety of plants. He attended Trident Technical College and earned a degree in Horticulture. He and Shirley were proud of the homes and yards that they built and maintained. Joe was an avid reader and learner. He enjoyed books about wars, history, spy and mystery novels. He read until his eyesight started failing him in his nineties.

Most of all, Joe loved his big family. In addition to his wife and two children, he enjoyed his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and the many nieces and nephews that came along. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays meant large family and friends' gatherings that Joe spent hours preparing for. He especially enjoyed cooking the turkey for the Thanksgiving meal. He and Shirley hosted the family gathering for years at their home in North Charleston.

Joe and Shirley have two children, Joseph A. Trainor, III (Carla) of Prosperity, SC and Shirley Trainor-Thomas (Jim Thomas) of Mount Pleasant, SC. They have five grandchildren: Joseph A. Trainor, IV (Megan), John Wesley Trainor, Samuel Trainor, Julie Thomas Mooney and Lauren Thomas Lee (Mackenzie). In addition, he was blessed with four great-grandchildren. Joe also had a Godson, Timmy O'Neil (Donna) of Staten Island. His surviving in-laws are Rodney and Janice Pye of North Charleston, SC.

Besides his parents, Joe was predeceased by siblings and their spouses, Ellen Trainor Schaeffer (Eddie), Frances Trainor O'Neil (Timothy), James Trainor (Nancy), and Mary Trainor Owens (Harry) all of Staten Island, New York; and by in-laws: Edward and Alma Howard from Mt. Pleasant, SC and Kenneth and Faye Howard, from Charleston, SC.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Goose Creek.

The funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Goose Creek. Entombment will follow at Carolina Memorial Gardens in North Charleston, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 869 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843) 553-1511.