Joseph Stokes "Joe" Fender, Jr.

Mr. Joseph Stokes Fender, Jr., affectionately known by many as “Joe”, age 75, entered into rest Sunday afternoon, April 2, 2017, at his home in Smoaks.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, April 5, 2017, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro.  Interment will follow in Doctor’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 126 Doctor’s Creek Road, Walterboro. 

Born January 1, 1942, in Colleton County, South Carolina, he was a son of the late Joseph Stokes Fender, Sr. and the late Leona Smoak Fender.   He served our country in the South Carolina National Guard, was a retired Tool and Die Technician from Dayco Corporation in Walterboro, and was currently serving in the E-911 Addressing Department of the Colleton County Sheriff’s Department.  Joe was a member of the Smoaks Baptist Church and formerly served his community on Smoaks Town Council as well as with the town’s Volunteer Fire Department.   He loved fishing and the outdoors, and in his earlier years, enjoyed racing True Stock Cars and cookouts.  He was an amateur radio operator, having the handle, KA4KVR. 

Surviving are: his wife of twenty-nine years, Mrs. Carrie Haller Fender; a son, Joseph Stokes “Joey” Fender, III and his fiancée, Faith Wittke of Martinez, Georgia; a daughter, Janice Fender Avant and her husband Travis of Walterboro; and a niece whom he raised and loved as a daughter, Jaimie Elisabeth Marie Smock of Smoaks.  There are six grandchildren, Brittany Amanda Avant, Joshua B. Avant, Christian Kade Fender, Kaiden Daniel Fender, Adam Wittke, and Shaun Wittke; and a sister-in-law, Nina Haller Smock; as well as a host of extended family whom he dearly loved.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Faye Rentz Hendricks 

Flowers will be accepted, or for those that wish, the family has suggested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to the following:  Gideons International, Inc., 246 East Washington Street, Walterboro, South Carolina, 29488; or to, Colleton County Special Olympics, 1276 Assembly Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.

Family and friends are invited to call during a time of visitation from 6 o’clock until 8 o’clock this Tuesday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro; 843.538.5408.  Visit our online registry at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

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