Joseph R. Marks Sr.

Joseph Reid Marks, Sr.
Raleigh
Joseph "Joe" Reid Marks died peacefully on Saturday, April 6, 2012 at The Oaks of Mayview in Raleigh. He was 88.
A memorial service and inurnment will be held at Ridge Road Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Randy Sherron, pastor, officiating. Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, St. Mary's Street, is assisting the family.
The third of five children born to Joseph Lee and Elizabeth McInnis Marks, Joe grew up in Aberdeen, NC, where he was a three-sport athlete at Aberdeen High School. Shortly after graduation and the start of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 749th Battalion in the Southern Philippines. After receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1946, he returned to Aberdeen and worked briefly at Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad as an Electrician Helper. During this time he met and courted Katherine "Kay" Garland, who graduated from Wake Forest College and moved to Aberdeen to teach High School English and French. They married in 1947 and moved to Raleigh where Kay worked while Joe attended N.C. State on the GI Bill and completed his BS degree in Agricultural Economics. Upon graduation, they moved to Asheville where Joe worked a year in sales for Skyline Dairies prior to starting his 30-year career in sales and management with Farmers Cooperative Exchange ("FCX" and now Southern States). After five years in store management in Goldsboro and Lumberton, Joe was promoted to a regional sales manager and the family relocated to Mount Olive. They remained there for fourteen years until 1972, when they moved to FCX corporate headquarters in Raleigh, and he and Kay maintained their residency in Raleigh ever since. After retirement from FCX, Joe spent ten years as eastern U.S. sales manager and consultant to PM Ag Products, a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle, Ltd. During his agribusiness career, Joe proudly served on the Board of Directors of the American Feed Manufacturers Association.
Despite his long-term residency in Raleigh, Joe considered Mount Olive as the family home, since these were the years he and Kay raised their two sons and were very involved in local civic and community activities. Joe served as Deacon at Mt. Olive First Baptist Church and on a pastoral search committee, among others. He was also very active in Rotary, serving as President and also being voted Outstanding Rotarian of the Mt. Olive Chapter. Joe also served as Scoutmaster for the local Cub Scout Troop. An avid golfer during his active years, Joe was a member of Goldsboro Golf Club and in 1967 was a founding member of Southern Wayne Country Club. Even after relocation to Raleigh, Joe maintained his membership at Southern Wayne for many years, thereafter. He had been an active member of Ridge Road Baptist Church in Raleigh since January 1974.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, Joe is survived by a son Joseph Reid ("Reid"), Jr. and wife Mary of Greensboro; two grandchildren, Katherine ("Katie") Cromwell Marks of New York City, and Joseph ("Jay") Reid Marks, III, of Greensboro; a step-grandson, James Bohannon of Greensboro; a sister, Alene Marks Flinchum of Aberdeen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, James Garland Marks, and siblings Mae Marks, Ernestine M. Patrick, and Thad Marks.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. William "Billy" Dunlap and the staff at The Oaks at Mayview, Sarah Dillon and the staff of Good Health Services and Independence Village at Olde Raleigh for their support and care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Following the brief inurnment, all are invited to the church fellowship hall for refreshments and to visit with the family.