From Undine Barge Club president Frank Rowe:
Joe Ludwig, age 90, passed away on November 17. Joe was one of the truly great Undianians. He was a loyal club member for over sixty years and an accomplished rower, winning 7 national championships. He was always at the front of the pack in the annual Turkey Trot, a favorite race of his he once told me. Joe was a decorated WWII veteran winning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He jumped on D-Day and fought in pivotal campaigns during the height of WWII. He was the former President of the 101st Airborne Association of Philadelphia. When he returned from the war he had a distinguished career working for the postal service. In 2000 Charles Murray and Joe visited Amsterdam to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Allied forces final push to defeat Germany by sending thousands of paratroopers behind enemy lines to secure key bridges until reinforcements could arrive. This offensive became the story line for the great movie "A Bridge Too Far".
Viewing and mass service will be on Wednesday, November 23rd, beginning at 9:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Roxborough. Internment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery immediately following the service.
Joe was warm, kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a hero and a champion. We will miss him terribly.