Joe was born in Winston-Salem, NC on September, 29, 1937 to the late Marion Monroe and Fern Shelton Parish. He is predeceased by Jane Kayler Love, the true love of his life and wife of 38 years, who died on December 18, 2019.
He is survived by his brother, Michael (Joan) Parish of Rockledge, FL; his daughters, Amanda Parish and Laurie Parish (Eric) von Bargen; and grandchildren Reid and Etta Caulder, and Olivia von Bargen of Wilmington, NC. Joe’s stepchildren Kayler Love (Dale) McMichael of Charlotte, NC, Angela Love of Wilmington NC and Brad Love of Conway, SC; and his three step grandsons Robert, Ethan, and David Love. His very special niece, Susana Dancy, her husband, Jim Rogalski of Chapel Hill, NC and their children Marshall of Oakland, CA, Taylor of San Francisco, CA and Helen Rogalski of Washington, DC. His lifelong friend and fraternity brother, Gray Stiefel of Winston Salem, NC, and his first wife, Betty Dancy (Fred) Adams of Wilmington, NC.
Joe and Jane both loved to travel and did so extensively. One of their favorite traditions was spending every December in Wrightsville Beach, where friends and family from all over would gather for spirited holiday seasons full of love and cheer.
Joe’s love of the ocean drew him to join the Navy in 1956 where he served on the USS Haynsworth. Later in life he became a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and Flotilla 17-5 Lake Wylie and was honored as the Auxiliary Member of the Year in 2003.
Joe attended NC State University, was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated with an engineering degree in 1965. He worked at DuPont for the entirety of his career.
Until Joe’s hospitalization October 28, 2020 he bowled and golfed weekly, once scoring a Hole-In-One in 1995.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Joe's life will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 2 pm in the Chapel of McEwen Funeral Home - Pineville, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210. The family will greet friends, following the service.
Memorials may be made to the Folded Flag Foundation at www.foldedflagfoundation.org.
Online condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18