Joe was born in Bellevue, Kentucky to second generation German Americans, Joseph and Teresa Oldendick. It’s conjectured that Joe arrived with a love of engines and pursued the maintenance of these engines throughout his life whether they powered craft on land, air or water. He tuned in this love with hand-built boats and a 1960 Corvette that his future wife of 62 years, Dolores Fay, told friends was the less iconic Corvair. They were married in 1963 and swapped the Corvette out for a VW Bug.
In high school, the cross-country coach noticed Joe running with his accordion to his lessons across the river to Cincinnati and back. He redirected Joe a.k.a. “The Flash” to use that energy to become a beloved track and cross-country star, even winning when he took 2 wrong turns in the 1954 Cross Country Championship.
Joe joined the Navy in 1955 and was part of the Heavy Attack Squadron Five. He was a hydraulic mechanic on aircraft carriers servicing fighter jets and twin-engine prop planes. When he was discharged in 1961, he went home but found out his family had moved to Cincinnati and forgotten to tell him. He went on to work at Standard Publishing as a lithographer for over 40 years.
Joe’s superpower was his ability to be in the present. He never felt he lacked anything. Whether he was boating, fishing, bowling or golfing, he was all in. He was quick with his love for people, and he showed it with his huge smile and his direct gaze that let people know he was meeting you with an open heart. (This got him out of a lot of speeding tickets.)
Joseph is survived by his wife, Dolores, his daughter, Jo Ann Berger (Michael), and son, Matthew (Julie), his brothers, Thomas (Donna), David (Cathy) and his sister, Linda Lyons (Jim). He is the loving grandfather to Ava and Maxine Berger, and Lula, Pippie, Sadie and Wolfgang Oldendick.
Mass will be held at St. James of White Oak on September 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with a reception to follow at the Knights of Columbus, 3144 Blue Rock Road, Cincinnati, OH 45239.
Joe was a Bellevue Hall of Fame cross country runner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made via Venmo to the Joe Oldendick Scholarship Fund. A scholarship will be given to a Bellevue High School Cross Country team member attending college or trade school. venmo.com/u/JoeOldendickScholarshipFund (last four digits-1823.)
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