Joseph Samuel “Joe” Persinger, Sr., lifelong resident of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, died on Tuesday morning, May 15, 2012 at the The Terrace at Mountain Creek. He was 84 on April 27.
Joe was the son of Rachel (Whitaker) and Joseph Hull Persinger, who pre-deceased him.
He attended Lookout Mountain Elementary School and Chattanooga City High School. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity at the University of Chattanooga. He was a member of the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. He served in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Station Great Lakes in Chicago, Il., and in St. Simons Island, Ga.
Business took him to New York City; Atlanta;Charlotte, N.C., and Chattanooga. He retired after many years as owner and president of Joe Persinger Construction Company, and specialized in custom home construction.
Joe was an active volunteer with the Walter Boehm Birth Defects Center and served as Hamilton County chairman of the March of Dimes Telerama, benefiting the center. He was an avid outdoorsman – enjoying hunting, fishing and golf at the Lookout Mountain Golf Club. He also enjoyed playing golf when at Sandestin, Fla. He was a supporter of Ducks Unlimited for many years. He was active until he developed health problems.
Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia Murphy (Pat) Persinger, two sons, Joseph “Joe” (Leeann) Persinger, Jr. of Denver, N.C.; Stephen “Steve” C. (Karen) Persinger of Lookout Mountain; and daughter, Margaret “Meg” Persinger (Oscar) Brock, of Lookout Mountain. Also surviving are his twin brother, John “Jack” M. (Winkie) Persinger of Lookout Mountain, and sister, Sue Persinger Nowlin, of Lynchburg, Va.
Much loved by and known as either Granddaddy or Doe Doe, are his grandchildren, Robert Persinger and Michael Persinger, both of Denver, N.C.; S. Christopher (Annie) Persinger, of Mobile, Ala.; Thomas M. Persinger and Joseph B. Persinger, both of Lookout Mountain; M. Archer Brock and Eleanor H. Brock, both of Lookout Mountain; two great-grandchildren, Sarah Claire Persinger and Luke Austin Persinger, Mobile, Ala.; nieces, Marshall Persinger, Martha Nowlin Smith, Tish Nowlin and nephew, John Persinger.
The family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m. at the church.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 22, at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, with Reverend Ray Clark officiating. Interment will follow in the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden.
To share words of comfort to the family, visit www.heritagefh.com.
Very special thanks to longtime friend and personal physician, Dr. John Laramore; the staff at The Terrace at Mountain Creek; and Hospice of Chattanooga.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Chambliss Children’s Home; Goodwill Industries, on Dodds Avenue or your favorite charity.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.