It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of our beloved Joseph Lynwood Poteat on April 11, 2022, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. Born May 23, 1946, in Danville, VA and raised on the Poteat Farm in Yanceyville, NC, Joe attended Virginia Tech where he earned his civil engineering degree. Soon after, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Upon his return home, he was employed by the City of Danville as Traffic Engineer. Later, he became an entrepreneur and started his own successful dry-cleaning business, known then as Martin's Cleaners.
Joe loved NASCAR, playing golf and all things sport. He especially loved pulling for his alma mater, the Virginia Tech Hokies. He also loved to travel and visited nearly every historic destination in the United States. Upon retirement, he spent a lot of his free time researching family history and genealogy, while traveling with his wife Pat to numerous local areas of interest to locate long lost relatives.
He was predeceased by both of his parents Richard Lynwood Poteat and Vivian Poteat Walker, as well as his stepfather Andrew Herbert Walker. Joe is survived by his loving wife Patricia Dillon Poteat of the residence in Danville, VA; sons Paul Poteat and Brian Poteat (Natalie) of Las Vegas, NV; daughter Angela Poteat Thomson (Perry Snyder) of Greensboro, NC and her children, Whit, Grey, and Hayden Thomson. Joe is further survived by his brother Richard Wilson Poteat (Judy) of La Grange, NC, and their children; Matthew Poteat (Catherine) of Staunton, VA, Mitchell Poteat (Sabrina) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, and Megan Bledsoe (Will) of La Grange, NC. Joe is also survived by his stepbrother Andy Walker of Danville, VA; Aunt Audrey Bliss of Danville, VA; Army comrade Larry Sprinkle (Lynn) of Columbia, SC; family friends Linda Bell of Danville, VA and Judy Stowe of Dry Fork, VA; as well as numerous special cousins from the Poteat and Walker families.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations be made in Joe's honor to the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association, Inc., or the Danville Life Saving Crew