Joseph Whitney (Dr. Joe) Green, DMD, 86, passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Spring View Hospital in Lebanon, Kentucky from complications of pneumonia. A lifelong resident of Lebanon and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, he was a retired dentist and President of the Lebanon Water Board, where he served as a member since 1968.

Born on October 4, 1925 in Lebanon, Joe was the youngest of six children born to Nell Putnam Green and Dr. William Spalding Green. He attended St. Augustine Grade School and St. Augustine High School, graduating in 1943. He served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946; part of that time was spent at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Joe attended Western Kentucky State College, the University of Louisville and the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, from which he graduated in 1954. During dental school, he was the President and Grand Master of Psi Omega, an honorary fraternity for dental students. He had a dental practice in Lebanon for 36 years and also donated his time and talents as a dentist for the Sisters of Loretto, the Sisters of Charity, the Trappist Monks of Gethsemani and the priests at St. Mary's College.

A dovoted volunteer for many years, Joe received numerous awards and accolades for his service. He was founding member of the God Squad at St. Augustine Catholic Church, was named Catholic School Volunteer of the Year by the Archdiocese of Louisville in 2001 and received the Catholic Schools Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. He was a co-member of the Sisters of Loretto. A special volunteer duty was spending time weekly in the preschool and kindergarten classes at St. Augustine School.

Joe was responsible for the construction of the Lebanon Dam and Reservoir and, under the supervision of Rev. Roger Boemicke, he became the manager of the St. Augustine Cemetery in 1970. After his retirement in 1990, he tended the cemetery grounds every day until he was no longer able to do so. Due to his dedication to the people of Lebanon, he received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Lebanon/Marion County Chamber of Commerce in 1992.

Joe is survived by his wife of nine years, Kathleen Hall Green. He was preceded in death by his wife of forty-eight years, Josephine Bowles Green and two daughters, Alice Green Allen and Josephine Green Smith. He leaves to cherish his memory seven children: Lt. Cmdr. Joseph W. Green, Jr. (Pam); Fred Bowles Green (Carol); Isabel Green Duley (Bill); Nell Green Grundy; Marion Abell Green; Grace Green Tiechman (Jeb); and Nancy Green Elder (John Arthur); twenty--four  grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three step-daughters: Carol Hall Rickman  (Scott); Michelle Hall Lancaster (Charles, Jr.); and Angela Hall Connar (Rick) and seven step-grandchildren.

In 2005, Joe said, "I am particularly proud of my Catholic heritage, my family, Saint Augustine Church, the cemetery, the Water Company Dam, and God giving me the privilege of being allowed to be part of the lives of so many people."

His Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 235 South Spalding Avenue in Lebanon, with burial to follow at St. Augustine Cemetery. Visitations will be on Friday from 4-9 p.m. at Bosley Funeral Home, 246 South Proctor Knott Avenue.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Augustine School, 236 South Spalding Avenue, Lebanon, KY. 40033.