Joe Calvin Pickler

Joe Calvin Pickler, 99, of New London passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Bethany Woods. His funeral will be at 11 AM on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Kendall’s Baptist Church with Reverend Keith Walters & Reverend Kent Little officiating. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, from 6-8 at Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care of Albemarle. Born July 29, 1925, in Stanly County, NC, Joe was the son of the late Walter Judd & Roxie Eva Pickler. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Maudine Austin Pickler on January 19, 2004, after 57 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his oldest son, Robert Walter “Bob” Pickler, sister Louise (Lewis) Miller & Pauline (Eddie) Stovall (who lived to be 101). He is lovingly survived by his son David Lee Pickler & his wife Mary Poplin Pickler and daughter-in-law Carolyn Thomas Pickler. Those also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren Melissa Pickler Bost (Steven “Moose”) and Amanda Pickler Starling and great grandsons Willie Oscar Starling IV, Robert Calvin Starling & Cooper Joe Bost. Joe was very proud to have his first & middle names used in his honor. Joe graduated from New London High School in 1943 and went straight to working on the family farm until being hired years later by his father-in-law JR Austin. He was an entrepreneur and decided to go into a welding & fabrication business with Ralph Carpenter. Carolina Welding Shop was officially opened January 1, 1955. Years later in 1959, he bought out his partner & continued to grow the business, eventually hired both of his sons, Bob & David. Both his wife Maudine & daughter-in-law Carolyn were employed as well. Joe retired in 1990 at age 65 with sons Bob & David continuing the business. During a brief time of need, Joe came out of retirement in 2007, like he had never left, until Carolina Welding Inc officially closed doors on July 29, 2008, fittingly on his birthday. Joe was a lifelong member of Kendall’s Baptist Church where he served many different roles throughout the years. One of his best roles was being the giver of Certs & Lifesavers while he had his arms around his granddaughters as they snuggled in. Joe enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling, photography but especially spending time with family & friends. In 1980, He & Maudine purchased their place at Sunset Beach, NC where they enjoyed deep sea fishing, inlet fishing, oystering, clamming & crabbing. He & Maudine spent many days fishing & trying to catch the big one, or at least their daily limit! One of his favorite past times was hosting fish fries & oyster roasts, bringing family & friends together to enjoy the fresh catches. Being a farmer’s son & helping farm the land, he had a love for gardening food & flowering plants. He was honored multiple times in the local paper at Sunset Beach for his tomatoes & flower gardens. He was known to carry a tomato with him anywhere he went to eat because no one had any “good ones.” He had a love for travel with he & Maudine traveling the continental US, Hawaii & many international trips. He dabbled in photography and had tables loaded & a closet full of picture albums in which he would make notes narrating the trips. He loved history & loved to tell the history of places they travelled. Some of the places he & Maudine traveled were Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Japan & New Zealand. He loved going through the pictures & telling stories of what they did & experiences they had. To say he lived a long & full 99 years of life is an understatement. He would often speak of the amazing changes he had seen over the years. He was an amazing man, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, family member & friend. He will truly be missed but he was ready to go because he knew he was going to get to see his Lord & Savior. He received his last blessing of being surrounded by family the last hours of life & died peacefully in his sleep. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of the 800 Hall of Bethany Woods along with Cardinal Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Kendall’s Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 32157 Kendall’s Church Rd New London, NC 28127 c/o Memory of Joe Pickler

Joe Calvin Pickler

July 29, 1925 - March 8, 2025