Dr. Joseph Ralph Reddick, known to those who loved him as "Dr. Joe," age 84, passed away on June 27, 2026, in Houston, Texas. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Shirley Wingo Reddick and spent his childhood in Springfield, Missouri, being raised by his grandmother, Osie Wingo. He met the love of his life, Sarah Anne Campbell, in the halls of Jarrett Junior High School. It would take many years for him to convince her, but they finally married on August 9, 1963 and spent more than six decades building a life, family, and community rooted in their love for each other and God.

After high school, Joe joined the Navy Reserves before enlisting in the United States Navy. He served out of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii aboard the USS Daniel Boone submarine until 1970. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii in 1970, beginning a lifelong pursuit of education that would later include a Master of Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University in 1992 and a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2000.

Joe built a distinguished career in the accounting world and later in academia where he found his true calling in the classroom. For more than 30 years, he served as a professor of accounting and business management, primarily at what is now Rochester Christian University in Michigan. He also taught online through Baker College and several other institutions, touching the lives of countless students across generations.

He and Sarah were devoted members of the church of Christ - most recently the Rochester Church of Christ in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Bammel Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. Over the years, he drove the Joy Bus, taught Bible class, and led generations of young people through Bible Bowl. His faith was core to who he was and how he loved those around him, and it was a faith that he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Outside the classroom and church, Dr. Joe was most at home surrounded by family, a grill in front of him with a sports game playing in the background. He was known for his delicious barbecue, his deep love for his family, and his passionate loyalty to his teams -- the Houston Astros, the Houston Rockets, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans.

He is survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Sarah; his daughters Kalai McHan (Chris), Malia Reddick, and Hannah Guedenet (Charles); his son Campbell Reddick; his grandchildren Hayden McHan (Bailey), Lizzy McHan, Jack Reddick, Charlotte Guedenet, and Adeline Guedenet; and his great-grandson, Cooper McHan. And his many bonus children he loved along the years, especially Lisa, Carter, and Ruthie Pittman and Scott, Stephanie, and Henry Peltier.

Donations can be made in his memory to Rochester Christian University ,

NOTE: Joe & Sarah Reddick Endowment.