Individual Details

Death

STAUNTON — Joseph Erskine Furr died June 28, 2009, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte, W.Va. He was born May 7, 1933, in Staunton, the son of Erskine and Julia Catherine Furr. He was a graduate of Wilson Memorial High School, Class of 1951. He did postgraduate studies at AMA and Greenbrier Military School. He served in the U.S. Army as military policeman. In 1958, he founded Joe Furr Livestock. He was widely known as one of the most successful cattle dealers on the East Coast. In 1974, he was awarded the National Livestock Dealers Association Outstanding Service Award, presented to him in Long Beach, Calif. He was a lifelong member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles Lee Furr. He is survived by two daughters, Lucinda Catherine Caldwell and her husband, Alex, and Angela Ingram Furr; two sons, Joshua Erskine Furr and Jeremiah Madison Furr; a special niece, Susan Pappas; three great-nephews, Brian, Jason and his wife, Lauren, and Daniel Jordan; and his special friend and brother-in-law, Peck Thomas. Mr. Furr was known and loved by many for his strength, work ethic and kindness. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2, 2009, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church by the Rev. Robert D. McCarty. A reception will follow the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Augusta Regional SPCA, P.O. Box 2014, Staunton, VA 24402 or to the American Heart Association, 3025 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
The News Leader, Staunton, Virginia, June 29, 2009