Joseph Jordan Obituary

Springfield Joseph Joe Jordan passed away on July 21, 2022. Joe was born on January 29, 1930, in Arcola, Missouri, to the late Charles P. and Minnie (Taylor) Jordan. He married Dorothy Mae (Fike) Jordan on May 31, 1958, and together they raised three children.
When Joe was about 10 years old, he moved with his parents to Springfield, Missouri. He loved visiting Springfield s Union Stockyards where his father worked and often helped by counting sheep. He would also visit the Stockyard s restaurant where his mother and aunt worked.
He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1947 and attended Missouri State University, becoming a university staff photographer with his friend Elmer Anderson. Joe and Elmer formed Anderson-Jordan Photography located near the corner of Bennett and Glenstone, where they also worked for local and national newspapers, and in 1953, began photographing and filming for local TV news and produced many local TV commercials. Joe and Elmer also worked evenings at the popular Half-a-Hill restaurant and dance hall. After taking photos of the many party goers, society couples, and fraternity and sorority parties they were able to quickly print the photos in their dark room, return to the Half-a-Hill and sell them to the patrons later the same evening.
Joe received an Associated Press award for his photo of a collision at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Speedway. During the 1959 riot at Springfield s U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Joe was the only member of the media allowed to enter the prison, take photographs and film. His images were used locally and nationally, including in the New York Times. One of his favorite stories was when he met then-President Harry Truman during one of his visits to Springfield.
Joe joined the Air Force after the start of the Korean War. He was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where he was a Tech Sergeant and also completed many low-flight photography missions. After his service, he returned to Missouri State University and completed his degree in business and economics. Later he attended the Eastman Kodak School of Photography in Rochester, New York and earned his master s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Later he started selling record albums at the Anderson-Jordan photography store. Record albums became so popular, he started The Record Shop on the same corner of Bennett and Glenstone. Later he expanded, selling Magnavox televisions. He opened an additional store Colony Magnavox at the Battlefield Mall in the 1970s, and later the rental company Tel-A-Rent until he retired in 1992. He was an active member of the Order of DeMolay, Sigma Pi fraternity and the Springfield Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Springfield.
Joe and his wife Dorothy attended Missouri State Bear s basketball and football games together - and was an enthusiastic Bear Booster. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals, watching every game on television and traveling to games in St. Louis. They also traveled together all over Europe, the U.S. and Canada. He was very social and had many lifelong friends. Joe was always willing to listen, offer help and advice, and an interesting (and usually funny) story about his life.
Joe was an avid boater, camper and fisherman, frequently visiting Table Rock Lake. And he always enjoyed a good gin martini, shaken, not stirred.
He was so very proud of his five grandchildren.
Joe is survived by his son Charles Christopher Chris Cleo) Jordan of Windsor, Vermont; and daughters Joann (Craig) Hosmer of Springfield, Missouri; and Cindy (Ric) Weinstein of Chesterfield, Missouri; his five grandchildren: Mitchell, William, Megan, James Harry and Joseph Theo. Also left to remember Joe are his many friends who will miss his humor, patience, wisdom, and love. From the 1949 Missouri State University Standard newspaper Ever present when called upon, Joe s dependability and capability make him stand out in the quality and faithfulness of his work. Joe has a lust for life that is equaled by few, and this feeling is reflected within his beliefs and ambitions. This is the biography of one of those rare things, a dependable man. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Missouri State University Foundation.
Visitation Sunday, July 24, 2 to 4 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Services Monday, July 25, at 10 a.m., Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.