Joseph (Joe) Jay Bibbo

Joseph (Joe) Jay Bibbo was born March 19, 1955, on Saint Joseph Day in Wheeling, WV at Saint Joseph Hospital. Son of Joseph Marino Bibbo and Pearl (Donner) Bibbo.

Joe is survived by his wife Judy (Sites) Bibbo; his sons Michael Joseph (Max) Bibbo, Alpharetta, GA and William (Willie) Walter Bibbo, Mosier, Oregon; and his sister Jeanette (Bibbo) Buffington, Wellsburg, WV. He is also survived by Delton Locklear, Jr. of Sumter, South Carolina, whom Joe and Judy considered a son, along with Delton's children: Kelsey Lockear of Florida, Logan Locklear, and River Rose Locklear of South Carolina.

Joe grew up in Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he attended St. John Catholic School and later graduated from Brooke County High School in 1974. He attended West Virginia University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1979 and a Master of Science degree in 1981. He continued his graduate studies through advanced master's coursework in 1982.

His work history includes Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel after graduating High School and during summers while attending college. After college Joe taught Special Education in WV and later in VA, he transitioned to working at Hercules Inc. as Environmental Safety Officer while in VA. After moving to Florence, South Carolina, Joe worked for Wellman Inc. in Johnsonville and later in Darlington as an Environmental Safety Officer. He remained with the facility through ownership transitions, continuing to serve in environmental safety leadership until his retirement.

Joe is a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, SC. He has been a McLeod Volunteer serving the McLeod Cancer Center in Florence, SC. He is active in several local and national cancer groups as a volunteer and member: Casting Carolinas of NC and SC, Man Up to Cancer, Reel Recovery and The V Foundation. As an avid Fly Fisherman and teacher of the sport he is a member Saluda River Trout Unlimited and has taught many the art and sport of Fly Fishing across the U.S as well as the art of Fly Tying. His Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer, is still circulating on The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast (How to Plan a DYI Fly Fishing Trip, with Joe Bibbo).

Podcast: How to Plan a DIY Fishing Trip, with Joe Bibbo - Orvis News

Joe has been an athlete and outdoorsman all of his life, while also teaching and encouraging others to grow in their life. As best said by his son Max “from the very beginning, you’ve been our guide, not just in the outdoors, but in life. You have taught me and Willie how to respect nature, how to fish and hunt with purpose, and how to find adventure in the wild places most people never see. Some of our greatest memories were made following you down mountain trails in West Virginia to catch native brook trout or chasing the next sunrise in some remote corner of the world. All while telling some ridiculous stories along the way.”

“But even more than that, you’ve shown us what real strength looks like. Your courage in the face of cancer, and your selfless heart continuing to volunteer and help others, has been a true inspiration.”

“We are who we are today because of you. Thank you for every lesson, every adventure, and every moment.”

As a writer and storyteller, he kept detailed logs of all rivers, streams and bodies of water fished and could easily tell someone the best fishing spots and the fly to use at that location based on time of year, often getting calls and emails asking about a location and advice for fishing. Quickly he would pull out the information on that steam and share information with fellow anglers. Each fishing trip ended with a short story of the tale and was shared and sometimes published for others to enjoy or a piece of art created to remember the beautiful experience.

Joe and Judy met when he was working on his doctorate and teaching classes at WVU. She took one of his classes and the love story began 44 years ago. Both loving the outdoors and having a passion for fishing, hunting, camping and hiking. They have spent much of their time in the outdoors and at Judy’s Family Farm. Together they traveled to many locations across the US, as well as many other countries.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to McLeod Foundation HOPE Fund or St. Anthony Church, Florence.

The family and friends will have a Wake service from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM, on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the vigil, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, in the chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Link to a personal message Joe shared with McLeod Foundation recently:

A special personal message from Joe... - McLeod Foundation | Facebook

Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.