Joseph Slone was born March 19, 1902, in Poland, the son of Morris and Jennie Slone. Both parents were natives of Russia, with Morris coming to the United States in 1902, and Jennie with two-year old Joseph following in 1904.
Joseph had one sibling, sister Fannie Lillian, born July 6, 1906 in New York City.
By 1925 the family was living in Brooklyn, New York, where Morris was the proprietor of a stationery store. Joseph gave his occupation as "author", while sister Fannie was still a college student. (Both children had the advantage of a four-year college education.) Five years later they were all living at 320 Albany Avenue, with Joseph working as a clerk in his father's stationery store, while Fannie was a public school teacher.
In 1940 the family was living in the Bronx, at 2217 Starling Avenue. Both Joseph and Fannie were still unmarried and lived with their parents. Fannie was still teaching, but Joseph now worked as a manager in advertising.
The United States entered WWII in December of 1941, and in September of 1942, Joseph, at the age of 40, enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. He gave his civil occupation as "authors, editors and reporters," and stated that he was "single without dependents." He was 5'3", and weighed 119 pounds.
Joseph Slone died at the age of 80, on January 5, 1983, and was buried on Hart Island ten months later. His sister Fannie died in 1982, and was also laid to rest not far from Joseph, on Hart Island.
Sources: US Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; NY, State Census, 1925; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses.