WillowWood Shares Family Loss
August 17, 2015
Contact: Lisa Watkins
740.869.3377 ext. 106
WillowWood Shares Family Loss
The Arbogast family shared the news of the death of Joseph Arbogast on Monday, August 10, 2015. Joseph’s passing came unexpectedly as a result of a massive heart attack.
Joseph Arbogast, or Joe as he preferred, served as the co-owner and Executive Vice President of WillowWood for the past 20 years as part of the third generation of the Arbogasts to lead the family business. After serving in the U.S. Army, Joe began working full-time at WillowWood in 1967. In the early 1980s, Joe along with his two brothers, Eddy and Bob, agreed that the company was operating at capacity. Joe spearheaded the construction of WillowWood’s current facility.
As Joe grew into leadership of the business, he was part of several key product releases and industry firsts. He is the holder of several U.S. Patents, many in the field of prosthetics. While remaining active in business strategy and key decisions, during the 1990s Joe assumed a quieter leadership role within the company.
From his relationship with his grandfather, William E. Arbogast, a bilateral amputee and founder of WillowWood, Joe gained an appreciation for the daily challenges faced by amputees. He held an unwavering dedication to help amputees regain functionality in order to live their lives comfortably and confidently in their prostheses.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make memorial contributions to the Mt. Sterling Community Center. The center is located at 164 E. Main Street, Mt Sterling, Ohio 43143.