Joseph Tillman Gurganus
November 7, 1931 ~ April 25, 2022
ROCKY MOUNT - Joseph "Joe" Tillman Gurganus, age 90, passed away on Monday, April 25, 2022. Born in Durham County, NC on November 7, 1931, he was the son of the late Onwood Battle Gurganus and Mary Tilghman Gurganus. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene, Morrison, Charles, and Robert Gurganus; and his sisters, Hilda Inscoe and Elizabeth Hart.
Joe graduated from Oak Grove High School in Durham, and attended Atlantic Christian College on a football scholarship, playing on the last team fielded at the college, in 1950. He enlisted in the US Army in 1951, serving for six years. In June 1952 Joe received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Korea, an act also dramatically depicted in the Famous Funnies comic books ‘Korean War Heroes' series. He was promoted to Master Sergeant, and after leaving Korea served proudly in the Presidential Honor Guard in Arlington, Virginia. From 1954 until 1957 Joe was an ROTC instructor at Washington and Lee University. He attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, graduating in 1960. In 1962 Joe began his career in the food service industry with Seaboard Coffee Service. He was promoted to Chief of Operations in 1971, and elected President of Seaboard Foods, Inc. in 1981. In 1973 and 1980 Joe received the Supplier of the Year award from the NC Restaurant Association. In 1974 he was elected President of the NC Restaurant Suppliers Association. When Seaboard was acquired by Kraft, Inc. in 1985, Joe became General Manager of the Rocky Mount and Greensboro operations and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1992. In 1992 he received the first Carolina Food Service Suppliers Association Distinguished Service Award. Joe always had a love of American history; in retirement, Joe and Pat continued their travels around the US, ultimately visiting all 50 state capitols. He also enjoyed organizing and attending reunions of Korean War veterans throughout the country. Joe was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, having served as a Sunday School teacher and on the Board of Trustees. He also served on the boards for the YMCA, United Way, Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce, and the Executive Committee of the NC Restaurant Association, and was past President of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club.
Joe is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patsy Wheeler Gurganus; his daughters, Cynthia M. Gurganus and husband, Charles Newman, and Lisa G. Carey and husband, Kevin; his granddaughter, Elizabeth Fox; and his step-grandchildren, Melissa C. Weems and Kristopher Carey.
A Funeral Service to celebrate Joe's life will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum with Dr. Ronn McCracken officiating. Visitation with the family will follow the service in the mausoleum chapel.
Entombment will take place at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joe's memory to National Museum of the United States Army, 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Visitation
Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum
4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Thursday 4/28, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Visitation with the family will follow the service in the mausoleum chapel.
Service
Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum
4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Thursday 4/28, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
A Funeral Service to celebrate Joe's life will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum with Dr. Ronn McCracken officiating.
Cemetery
Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum
4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Thursday 4/28, 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Entombment will take place at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel on the Hill Mausoleum.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
I knew Joe and Pat when they were a young married couple in the late 1950’s and they lived beside my family in Lakeland, FL where Joe was attending college. I was around 10 years old. Both their daughters were born then. My Mother and sister babysat those baby girls, and I enjoyed playing with them. My Mother stayed in touch with them some through the years. I went to visit Joe and Pat in Rocky Mount about three years ago and saw Cynthia and Lisa for the first time in over 50 years. It was a wonderful visit. I am so sorry. Joe will be greatly missed by a legion of people.
– [ ] I grew up with the Gurganus’s granddaughter, Elizabeth. I would tag along with her on early release days and summer vacation play dates at her grandparents house. I always enjoyed spending time at there because I was always made to feel at home. Mr. Gurganus was always so patient and kind allowing us to run wild but never too out of hand, of course. He was a kind, smart and trustworthy man that could easily command and entertain a room. Mr. Gurganus truly and deeply loved, not only his beautiful family, but his neighbor and community are well. He will certainly leave behind a void in our hearts but his love, light and legacy with most certainly shine within the ones that had the opportunity to know him. My deepest love and condolences go out to Mrs. Gurganus and her family. He was one of the last true gentlemen.
You will be missed !
Lisa, I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. May God bless you and your family through this most difficult time!!!
Dear Cindy and Lisa, I’m thinking of you and praying for you. Your father was a very good man. May God bless your family with the consolation of His Spirit and the hope of the resurrection of His Son. Love you.
In memory of Joseph Tillman Gurganus, Mary Frances Winstead lit a candle
I am so sorry for you loss for the family I use to work for Seaboard Food back in the 1970 my prayers for the family at this sad time. Billy Catlett Sharpsburg NC
I am a friend of CynthaCindy Gurganus and met both Mr and Mrs Gurganus back in the 1980’s. Both were very nice to me, welcoming me into their home. My condolences to the family.
Mr. G was one of the last Southern gentleman. I had the pleasure of starting my career as the Maxwell House rep for Kraft Seaboard in 1989. He was a mentor and someone who did business in a honorable away. I remember many of the top to top meetings we had and how tough but fair he could be. He let me know I had a direct line him if I ever needed anything. The gave me a great deal of confidence starting out. Many of the practices in business I learned from him I used in my career. He was a giant in the foodservice industry. My sympathies to his family. Paul Lewis