Joel Hathcock

Joel Wayne (Poppy) Hathcock, 80, of the Endy community, Albemarle NC died
August 5, 2021, at Atrium Stanly surrounded by his family. Born July 30, 1941, at the Yadkin Hospital, he was the son of the late Ivory Hathcock and Mary Eudy Hathcock. He grew up in the Millingport community roaming the fields, streams and creeks along with his best friends Pat Parker, Jan Furr, Joseph Poplin, Luther Treece and Daisy, his beloved childhood dog. He always said his friends growing up were the best friends any kid could have ever had. The only fear he had in childhood was the dreaded “kittymeowcow.”

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Katrina Lefler Hathcock of the home, son, Derek and wife Janet Coon Hathcock of Kannapolis, daughter, Keilah and husband Johnny McManus of Oakboro, and son, Cary and wife, Joy Stogner Hathcock of New London. He was the proud Poppy to four grandchildren whom he dearly loved and admired, Lefler McManus, Bradley Hathcock, Pierson McManus and Cacy Hathcock. He was preceded in death by his sister Shirley Hathcock Lorch and niece April Lorch. He is survived by a sister, Carolyn Huneycutt, nephews, Danny Lorch, Michael Hunycutt and nieces, Tina Fraley, and Amanda Huneycutt. He is also survived by his granddogs, Murphy, Charley, and Ruby.

He was known by many names over the years--these include but are not limited to Joel Wayne Peterdick Hathcock, Jod, and Jew-el but the ones he never questioned or disliked were Deddy, Daddy, Pop and Poppy.

Poppy proudly served in the United States Navy from 1959-1962. He was a Crash Crewman and a Shore Patrol officer stationed in Great Lake, Illinois, Kodiak, Alaska, and San Diego, California. After his time in the Navy, Poppy started in the overhead fire protection business where he worked from 1962-2003 with High Point Sprinkler Company, Worsham Sprinkler Company and Sunland Fire Protection. He was most proud of the fact he performed his job accident free with no medical time off. The Sunland Christmas parties would never get started until Poppy and his good friend Bill Brewer danced to Wooly Bully and got everyone up on their feet. Poppy was a hard worker, and always gave to his kids what they wanted by sacrificing his own needs. After he retired from the fire protection business, he took on the best part time job working for J-Mac Electronics as the Senior Vice President of Shipping and Receiving. Poppy loved pets, especially dogs, loved to mow his yard, sunbathe, watch NASCAR, have an ice cold beer, and drive his golf cart out to the highway just to watch the cars. Saving spare change was a hobby and if you could guess the amount in his hand to the nearest .50 cent, you would win the money (no one ever won the money)! He believed that you could fix anything with duct tape or pliers and always had a handy supply nearby to use.  He appreciated a cold watermelon, a Mountain Dew, and was the creator of the perfect Hathcock “steak.” He indulged in fried bologna sandwiches, a good hotdog, homemade peanut butter crackers, banana pudding, McDonald's biscuits and gravy, honeybuns, Sweet Shop custards and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. He loved sweets but also salt. He always had to “season” his food a little extra or it wasn’t fit to eat. He loved to kid around but always had a hard time finishing telling a joke because he would laugh way before the punchline so everyone ended up laughing whether the joke was funny or not. His mischievous personality shined even as his health failed. In his later years, he’d hide his wallet, phone or TV remote control just so we would have to help come find the missing items so we’d have extra visits.

Poppy would want everyone to be happy, tell a lie about him or someone else and continue to live a happy jokester life. And remember as he always told his children, “Everything is going to be alright no matter what. And always be careful out on the road, there are lots of Hathcocks out there driving (and those people are crazy)!.”

Our family is thankful for the quality continued care that Poppy received. He respected Ms Connie, his personal caregiver for the past few months, the nurses, and rehab staff at Trinity Place, the staff at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury, and Asheville, NC, and the emergency department, the ICU team and the Palliative/Comfort Care Team at Stanly Atrium.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Friday, August 13, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The Celebration of Life service will be on Friday, August 13, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home's Lefler Memorial Chapel in Albemarle officiated by Dr. Shad Hicks. Burial will follow at the Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery at 20987 NC 73 Hwy, Albemarle.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Stanly County Animal Protective Service, Stanly County Humane Society, The Fisher House or to the DAV to be used for the ride share program.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Hathcock family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com