DOVER - Joe Clifton Sales, Sr. passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Capitol Rehabilitation, Dover. Joe was born in Guthrie, Ky., to Fort and Deanes Sales on a spring day in 1933. The first son after four daughters in a family of seven children, he grew up in the rough and humble life of farming, which he always loved. He often did farm labor at relative's farms as well. It was the foundation of his strong work ethic. He enlisted in the Army at 18 for two terms and subsequently served in the Air Force for two years. He met his wife of 56 years, Ina Campbell, through her younger sister, Geraldine Campbell on a double date and it was love at first sight! Separated by a tour in Iceland, they re-established a relationship, dated and were married Oct. 23, 1960. They started a family with the birth of Joe, Jr. in October 1962, Roger in August 1964, and Kelly in October 1967. Joe was a lifelong truck driver and loved being behind the wheel, alone in the cab, meeting his responsibilities and obligations of a trucker. Through his career, he hauled a variety of products from gravel, steel and materials to paper goods and then liquid hydrogen before retiring in 2003. He enjoyed gardening, lawn care and tinkering with cars. He was an avid NASCAR fan. Preceded in death by his father and mother, Fort Sales and Deanes Sales, of Guthrie, Ky.; and his sister, Katharine, also of Guthrie, Ky.. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ina Sales; his sons, Joe, Jr. and his wife, Lonna, of Elkton, Md., Roger, of Dover; and daughter, Kelly Sales-Nesslage and her husband, Bruce, of Elkridge, Md. His younger brother, Billy, of Syracuse, Neb.; and his sisters, Marabelle Clevenger, of Guthrie, Ky., Betty Poore, Bosque Farms, N.M., Marcelle Burpee, of Clarkesville, Tenn., Dorothy Steeley, of Guthrie, Ky.; and his aunt, Ermine Sales, of Evansville, Ind. Joe has two grandchildren, Evangeline and Owen Nesslage, of Elkridge, Md. Services to be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at Dover First Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 647 Wyoming Avenue, Dover, DE 19904. Friends may call one hour prior. Internment at a later date at Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Bear. Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com