Joseph Vincent (Joe) O'Brien passed away unexpectedly March 14, 2017 at Province Place in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was born on July 29, 1923 in Portsmouth, to Mary Ann (Mamie) Ryder and John Stephen O'Brien, the youngest of seven siblings, all of whom predeceased him. In typical southern fashion, as a child he was known to the family as "Bink" and in school as Vincent. He attended St. Paul's Elementary School and St. Joseph's Academy both in Portsmouth, graduating in 1941.

Joe was employed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. In 1943, he entered the Merchant Marine Academy in Great Neck, New York. Joe was a WW II Veteran. After graduating from the Academy in 1944, he served as a marine engineer on Victory and Liberty troop ships, tankers, and cargo vessels in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters. On June 17, 1944, he married Jeanette Catherine Spahn, who survives him. Together, they have three children, Vincent (Lesley) O'Brien, Jr., George O'Brien (deceased), and Patricia O'Brien (Bill) Smith. Joe is also survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

After World War II, Joe went to work for the Esso Standard Oil Company and the family lived in Portsmouth, Charlottesville, Marion, and Norfolk, Virginia. When Joe left Esso in 1963, he and Jeanette founded the successful O'Brien Oil Company in Portsmouth. Together they opened the Ace Hardware on Bridge Road in Churchland and the O'Brien Marina in Suffolk. Joe was active in the Churchland Lions Club, traveling to many Lions Club Conferences and served a term as president. Joe and Jeanette were also active members of the Church of St. Therese in Portsmouth, where Joe served on the Finance Committee.

After they retired in 1975, Joe and Jeanette moved to Lake Gaston, North Carolina, where they enjoyed many years entertaining family and friends at a beautiful home on the lake. While in North Carolina, Joe worked for the North Carolina Department of Aging, serving five counties to help people below the poverty level find meaningful employment. In 1998, when their son George became ill, Joe and Jeannette returned to Suffolk to help care for him. In 2013, Joe and Jeanette moved to Province Place of Maryview in Portsmouth.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Resurrection, 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, Virginia on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 11:30 am. A reception will follow in the Church fellowship hall. Until then, Jeannette will be receiving friends and family at Bon Secours Province Place, Portsmouth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Oasis Social Ministry, 800 Williamsburg Ave, Portsmouth, VA.