Former Huntsville Times editor wrote his own obituary Updated Dec 31, 2020; Posted Dec 31, 2020 Huntsville Times editor Joe Distelheim, center, is interviewed in 1997 by C-SPAN'S Deborah Lamb. File photoHVT Facebook Share By Joe Distelheim Editor’s note: Ever the wordsmith, former Huntsville Times Editor Joe Distelheim wrote his own obituary while battling lymphoma. He died Wednesday. Joe Distelheim, a retired newspaperman, died December 30, 2020, wondering how he’s going to get his news from now on. He was 78, a 15-year resident of Hilton Head Island. Born in Chicago, he was a journalism alumnus of Northern Illinois University. He did graduate work at the University of Delaware and spent a year as a Professional Journalism Fellow at Stanford University. Also furthering his education, he survived the Battle of Parris Island, vowing never again to find himself anywhere near the place. Six years later, a grateful nation awarded an honorable discharge to Sgt. Distelheim, USMCR.