Joe graduated from Cameron High School in 1954 and then attended Newberry College. He served his state and country as a member of the S.C. Army National Guard for 42 years including 29 years at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. He retired as a Master Sergeant (E8) Quality Control Inspector for the Apache helicopters.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Heape Zeigler; son, Joseph Edwin “Eddie” Zeigler, Jr. (Susan Hay) of Orangeburg, SC; daughter, Susan Zeigler Socha (Don) of Franklin, IN; grandchildren, Erin Z. Fink (Josh) of Benson, NC, Loren M. Higgins (Ben) of Mesa, AZ, Andrew Socha (Brittany) of Evansville, IN, Michael Socha (Sarah) of Indianapolis, IN, Benjamin Zeigler (Lizzie) of Denver, CO, and Becca Zeigler of Charlotte, NC; great-grandsons Joseph and Oliver Fink; and sisters-in-law, Olivia (Shuler) Houck of Gilbert, SC and Johnnie Hunnicutt (Dan) of Anderson, SC.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, J. Lewis Zeigler; brother, Emzie Mack Zeigler; and sister-in-law, Joyce Collins Zeigler.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 28, 2025 at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, 11733 Broad River Rd, Chapin, SC 29036.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to Lutheran Homes of SC Foundation, 300 Ministry Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, designated to The Heritage at Lowman in Chapin, SC.
