Joseph Goldsten, 83, of Lexington, Virginia, died on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, with family by his side.

He was born in Charlottesville on January 15, 1929, the son of Joseph and Rebecca Goldsten.

Joe was educated in Charlottesville public schools before matriculating at Virginia Tech, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Metalurgical Engineering in 1950.

While an undergrad, he was a member of the Cadet Corps and an on-campus music ensemble dubbed the "Highty Tighties," contributing his musical abilities on, and passion for, the tuba. Joe enjoyed periodic reunions with old band members over the years.

In 1951, Joe went on to earn a Master's Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Lehigh University. He worked, while earning his masters degree, at Borg-Warner, and was instrumental in developing a compressor for an automobile air-conditioning unit, which was among the first such patents of its kind.

Joe was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army, proudly serving during the Korean War.

In the early 1970s Joe embarked on a change of career, earning a Ph.D. in Business Administration at the Ohio State University, and moving his young family to Lexington, where he joined the faculty at Washington and Lee University in its School of Commerce. Thus began a remarkable teaching career spanning nearly four decades until his retirement in 2001. Joe was a beloved and esteemed professor to whom many of his students attributed their own subsequent careers in finance.

Following Joe's retirement, an endowment was generously funded by W&L alumni for the Joseph Goldsten Departmental Support Fund, helping to underwrite educational activities and events that enrich academic life. Testimonials by alumni described Joe as a teacher "who went the extra mile and made a difference in their lives," who "inspired to do better and reach their potential," and who had "a tremendous impact" on students aspiring to careers in the financial world.

Joe's interests included gardening, camping, fishing and Ham radio.

He was a diligent public servant, serving as vice chair of the local planning commission, on the board of Stonewall Jackson Hospital, as Chair of the Lexington Board of Assessors and in several other capacities. He was a member of Rotary International and Boy Scout and Girl Scout Councils. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and of the Lexington Chapter of the Fortnightly Club. He was a member of numerous professional societies and honorary fraternities, and was a benefactor of Hillel House, the Jewish Student Life Center at Washington & Lee.

He offered extensive career counseling to students at W&L.

Joe is survived by his five children, Carol Fryhuald, of Richmond, Va., Janet Cantler, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Adeline Penn, of Diamond Springs, Calif., Audrey Becht, of Atlanta, Ga., and John Goldsten, of Bethesda, Md.; by his nine grandchildren; by his brother, Leonard Goldsten, of Boca Raton, Fla., and by his wife, Barbara Goldsten.

He is predeceased by his first wife, Adeline Wolff Goldsten; his second wife, Eve Byer Goldsten; and by two brothers. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2012, in the Lee Chapel, Washington & Lee University, followed by a reception at the W&L Alumni House at 4 p.m. A private graveside service will take place in Charlottesville.

Arrangements by Hill & Wood Funeral Home, Charlottesville, Va., 434-296-6148.