Joseph Lee Ervin
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph Lee Ervin on April 8, 2025 at the age of 84.
Joseph was born on August 8,1940 in Arborvale, WV, to the late Theodore and Mildred Ervin. In 1941, his family moved farther north to an 86 acre dairy farm in Teepleville, PA.
Joseph graduated from Edinboro State College in 1962 with a BS in Biology, and taught science for 3 years at Sagertown High School in Pennsylvania after graduating from college.
On July 17, 1965 Joseph married Carol Eakin Ervin of Cambridge Springs, PA. Soon after marriage the young couple moved to Lombard, IL, a suburb of Chicago, for Joseph to attend National Chiropractic College. In addition to being a full-time student, Joseph worked part-time jobs for local home builders doing clean-up and basic carpentry.
Their first son Joe was born in 1967 while living in Illinois. Joseph received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1968 and found his true calling. His loving and caring demeanor as well as his strong desire to help people improve their health were perfect for the chiropractic profession. They moved to Harrisonburg, VA in 1969 to start his chiropractic practice that would define his life. David, their second son, was born in 1970 in Harrisonburg.
Joseph and Carol made Harrisonburg their forever home, spending much of their lives serving the community.
The Chiropractic Center was opened in 1969 on the 5th floor of the National Bank Building in downtown Harrisonburg. In 1976, Joseph built the permanent home of his chiropractic practice at 117 North High Street, where it still operates today as a chiropractic office. Joseph sold the practice in 2005 and retired in 2013. Over his 40+ years of practice, Joseph was always willing to help someone in pain, sometimes spending extra hours in the evenings or on weekends providing treatments to those in need. His desire to help others was so strong that he never let a lack of money-or any inability to pay-stand in the way of someone getting the care they needed. House calls were never out of the question when it came to providing relief for someone.
Joseph and Carol also opened Valley Nutrition Center, a health food store in Harrisonburg. The first location was off of Court Square on Graham Street. The business grew and they soon moved the business to Elizabeth Street where it would operate for 23 years. The final move took it to the east side of town in Cloverleaf Shopping Center. They sold the business in 1993, but Joseph continued to offer nutritional advice.
Joseph was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Rockingham Masonic Lodge Number 27 and the Exchange Club.
Joseph and Carol were married for 59 years and were blessed with sons Joseph (Joe) Lee Ervin, Jr. and David Matthew Ervin and four wonderful grandchildren. Joseph's hobbies were vegetable gardening, yard work, home or work projects, tending his water garden, bluegrass music, spending time outdoors "piddling" as he would say, and time with family and friends. He will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched and for all the love he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them and if you knew him, you knew it.
Joseph is survived by his son Joe (Sandy) and grandchildren Lanie and Larson of Greenville, SC, and son David (Addy) and grandchildren Taylor and Joslyn of Virginia Beach, VA, his siblings Beverly (Bob) Arthur of Vero Beach, FL, James (Marilyn) Ervin of The Villages, FL, and Cheryl (Ken) Palmiero of Tampa, FL. He is predeceased by his wife and parents.
Following a private service, friends are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life for both Joseph and Carol on May 31 from 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at their residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community Foundation at 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 or to the RMH Foundation at 2010 Health Campus Drive Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
