Joseph "Joe" Tillman Gurganus

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.