Joseph Biden Sr., 86, the father of Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., died early yesterday at his son's home in suburban Wilmington, Del. He had been in failing health in recent weeks.
Born in Baltimore, Mr. Biden moved to Wilmington with his family as a young child. He was a graduate of St. Thomas Academy in Scranton, Pa.
Mr. Biden married Jean Finnegan of Scranton while he was employed as a sales representative for Amoco Oil Co. in Harrisburg in 1941.
During World War II, he worked as an executive for a company that made a waterproof sealant used on U.S. merchant marine ships. Later, he moved his family to the Wilmington suburb of Mayfield, and worked for 15 years in real estate sales in New Castle County and in Rehoboth Beach.
In addition to his son and wife, Mr. Biden is survived by two other sons, a daughter, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
