Captain Joseph A. Coulp

Dover - Joseph A. Coulp, 65, of Dover, formerly of North Hampton, passed away on November 16, 2023. He was born on December 28, 1957 in Beverly, MA; the son of the late Albert and Phyllis (Moynihan) Coulp. Raised in Hampton, he graduated from Winnacunnet High School with the class of 1976. Joe later went on to Plymouth State University graduating with a degree in Aviation. Joe was always interested in flying and spent a lot of time while in his teen years at Hampton Airfield. His first flight was in a 1941 Piper Cub from that very airport. He got his pilot’s license when he turned 16 years old. He began his career by flying banner signs back and forth over Hampton Beach. He also flew scenic tours around the seacoast area. Joe could do anything he put his mind to. He built is first plane on his mother’s screened in porch, it was a Smith Mini Plane. Joe’s first job flying was with Precision Airlines. He also worked for Brockway Airlines (originally Air North) in 1982. It was a regional airline flying to major cities in New England. After graduating from Plymouth State, Joe was hired by American Airlines in 1985, as a flight Engineer flying the Boeing 727. In 1986 he upgraded to First Officer on the 727. In 1989 he upgraded to First Officer on the wide body Airbus A-300, mostly flying international flights to South America and the Caribbean Islands. In 1995 Joe became a Captain operating the MD 80/80 for numerous years, before transitioning to Captain on the Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft. After 9/11, in addition to Joe’s flying responsibilities, he fought for and became a Federal Air Marshal. He said it was the most difficult thing he ever did, both physically and mentally. Joe had many other passions besides flying. He loved skiing, scuba diving, lobstering and tuna fishing. He and Marga spent many days and nights out at the Isle of Shoals or Nantucket on their boat, the Rhumb Squall and looked forward to Ram Jam with a group of good friends. Joe was also a fantastic cook, especially when he prepared freshly caught fish. Surviving family members include his siblings, Candice Grimbilas and her husband George of Durham; Linda Coulp-Yu and her husband Dennis Yu of Hampton; John Coulp and his wife Susan of Hampton; Robert (Rocky) Coulp of Portsmouth, several nieces and nephews and Joe’s ex-wife but still dear friend, Marga Coulp as well as his step grandchildren, Hunter, Jordan and Dylan, who called him Papa Joe. In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his older brother Michael "Mac" Coulp. The family would like to thank Bellamy Fields and Cornerstone Hospice for their compassionate support, care and guidance. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 on Monday, November 27th; at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Hampton, 289 Lafayette Rd., Hampton, NH. Burial will follow in the High Street Cemetery in Hampton. Arrangements are by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joe Coulp’s name to the APA Emergency Relief & Scholarship Fund.

Captain Joseph A. Coulp

December 28, 1957 - November 16, 2023