Joseph Fletcher Wooten Sr.

COLUMBIA - A funeral service for Joseph Fletcher Wooten, Sr., 95, of Columbia, will be held at 2 o'clock Monday, February 7, 2011 at Eau Claire Baptist Church, officiated by The Rev. James A. Goudelock and The Rev. Kelly Strum. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 12:30 o'clock at the church. Memorials may be made to Eau Claire Baptist Church Building Fund, 4427 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203. Serving as pallbearers will be Brad Wooten, Hodge Wooten, Troy Wooten, Zach Wooten, Clint Chambers, Nate Eckstrom, Josh Fabel, and Greg Stephens. The grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Marnie (David) Funderburk, Michael Goforth, Christie Higgins, Jacob and Grace Wooten, Connor and Camryn Higgins, and Caroline and Chase Chambers and members of the Joe Boney Sunday School Class are invited to serve as honorary pallbearers. Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, is assisting the family.

After bravely battling a long illness, Dad went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Thursday, February 3, 2011. A son of the late Charles Reppard Wooten and Cassandra Ruth Elkins Wooten, Joe was born December 4, 1915 in a log cabin in Dodge County, Georgia. A graduate of Blythewood High School, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930's, and worked for a short time with Duke Power Co. in Charlotte.

An employee of the Greyhound Bus Co. from 1941-1979, Joe traveled thousands of miles across America enjoying a successful 38 year career with Greyhound. In the 40's and 50's he drove many of the University of SC Baseball and Football teams. He never met a stranger or forgot an old friend. Good times were spent meeting friends and Greyhound retirees for coffee, jokes, and tall tales. Joe was a member of Eau Claire Baptist Church where he served for many years as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and Maintenance Committee Member.

Survivors include a daughter, Helen W. (Jim) Goforth of Gaffney; sons, Charles L. (Beverly) Wooten of Charlotte; Joseph F. (Marylinn) Wooten, Jr., of Atlanta; S. Russell (Tammy) Wooten of Dallas; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a special friend, Ruth Boney. In addition to his parents Joe was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Dean Wooten in 1960 and by his second wife, Eulie Starnes Wooten in 2001. Also, by brothers Charles O. Wooten, Hewitt and Lawton Wooten, and a sister, Ella Meta Simpson.

The family wishes to express our gratitude to Eau Claire Baptist Church, Heartstrings Hospice, and Forest Pines Retirement Center for their loving concern and care of our father. ShivesFuneralHome.com 803.754.6290