Joseph Paul Pike, Jr.

Joseph Paul Pike, Jr., age 77, of Edgewood, Kentucky passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, April 12, 2024. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 22, 1947 to Joseph and Mary Rita Pike (nee Frankrone). Joe was a 1965 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, graduated with a Bachelors degree in 1970 from the University of Louisville and a Masters degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toledo in 1972. In 1971, he married his beloved Gloria Collette Pike (nee Cozzie). He enjoyed a long and varied career spanning more than 30 years at Procter and Gamble, pioneering new features for consumer products in cleaning and packaging divisions, as well as bringing new factories online in emerging markets as a plant engineer in the international division. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus (PGK), American Contract Bridge League, and Theta Tau Fraternity - Delta Beta Chapter, University of Louisville Engineering.

Joe enjoyed his retirement by sharing his hobbies and talents with his family and with the community whenever he could. A huge train buff, he enjoyed building and operating an expansive train display in his home, but he also shared his passion for trains with the public as a volunteer operating the Behringer-Crawford holiday train display over fifteen seasons. A talented speaker, he frequently shared his voice with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired by reading the newspaper aloud on a special news program broadcast in the Cincinnati area. Joe was an active bridge player at the Northern Kentucky Bridge Club where he spent much of his time in retirement. He thoroughly enjoyed the company and competition, and continued to play even just weeks before his passing.

He loved University of Louisville football, was a season ticket holder and attended numerous UofL games with friends and family at more than 60 stadiums in two countries. As a connoisseur of numbers and data, he created GridMap, a college football ranking system that he published weekly for his friends. Joe was an avid bridge player and golfer and made every effort to teach his children and grandchildren to play both as well. In his retirement, he owned eight race horses and reached the winner’s circle on nine separate occasions. He would also use his love of data and numbers to watch and bet races that he found interesting. Joe loved traveling with his wife, Gloria, and was always looking for another adventure.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Pike, Sr., mother, Mary Rita Pike, sister, Susan Seabold, and sister, Judy Pike. Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Gloria Pike, daughter, Lauren (Matt) Mullins, son, Jeff (Andrea) Pike, daughter, Taryn (Ricky) Skees, brother, Alan (Mary) Pike, sister, Julia Pike, sister, Caroline Pike, sister, Donna (John) Dockery, grandchildren, Andrew, Lilly, Bennett, Ethan, Avery, Aiden, Natalie, Ellie, Hudson, Nolan; and a host of other family members and friends.


In loving memory of Joe, contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers, Click here to donate online. A visitation will be held Monday, May 6, 2024 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 am at Mary Queen of Heaven Church, 1150 Donaldson Highway, Erlanger, KY 41018.


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