Danford Edmondson "Dan" Josey, Jr.
Scotland Neck
Danford Edmondson "Dan" Josey, Jr., 89, died Friday, April 26, 2013.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 29, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Scotland Neck. Interment will follow at the Baptist Cemetery. The Reverend Doctor Allen Cherry and the Reverend Doctor James Drake will be presiding.
The family will receive friends after the service at the family home at 1006 Church Street, Scotland Neck.
Dan was born on September 4, 1923 to the late Danford E. Josey, Sr. and Joyce Harris Josey. He was a member of the Wake Forest College Tennis Team and was an ACE fighter pilot during World War II, where he was the number one cadet graduate and a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, Dan finished his education at Wake Forest College and served as President of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Dan returned to Scotland Neck with his bride, Frederica "Rica" Kirkland, and started farming and working for the NC Department of Revenue.
He was a valued member of the First Baptist Church of Scotland Neck, where he served as Head Deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years. He instilled Christian values in his family and friends. Dan also served on the board of BB&T and as Police Commissioner for the Town of Scotland Neck for many years. While farming, he helped direct agriculture on State and National Agricultural Boards. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and hunt with his bird dogs. But most of all, Dan had a love of family and friends far and wide, and as many friends said, "He gave the best hug on the planet".
Dan is survived by his wife, Frederica Kirkland "Rica" Josey; his daughters, Marion Schulte of Scotland Neck and Frederica Shipman and husband Tom of Wake Forest; his sons, D.E. "Joe" Josey, III and William Harris Josey and wife Robin all of Scotland Neck; eight grandchildren, Kirk Josey, Wythe Josey, Alan Shipman and wife Christine, Walker Shipman, Josey Shipman, Madison Josey, Eric Josey, and Carson Josey; and two great-grandchildren, Connor Shipman and Clark Shipman.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Repair Fund, P.O. Box 539, Scotland Neck, NC 27874.

Arrangements are being handled by Letchworth Funeral Home in Scotland Neck.

Published in The News & Observer on April 28, 2013