Joe H. Hege, Jr.

Joe H. Hege, Jr., age 85, of Greensboro Street, Ext. Lexington passed away Monday morning (February 14, 2011) at Lexington Memorial Hospital, after one year of declining health. Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Thursday (February 17, 2011) at Pilgrim Reformed Church, with Rev. John H. Bigelow officiating. Burial will follow at Pilgrim Reformed Cemetery, with military graveside rites by VFW Post 3074. The family will receive friends at Davidson Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 pm Wednesday night and at other times at the home. Joe was born in Davidson County, January 28, 1926, to Joe Harvey Hege, Sr. and Ellen Josephine Hilliard Hege. He was Vice President, Purchasing Agent and Office Manager of Siceloff Manufacturing, before entering the political arena. A lifelong member of Pilgrim Reformed Church, Joe served various leadership positions, including the Consistory, as Cemetery Chairman and Sunday School Teacher. He was a charter member of the Triangle Fire Department. He proudly served nine terms in the NC House of Representatives between 1966 and 1992 and served as Sheriff of Davidson County in 1971. He was Assistant director of the Services for the Blind of NC in Raleigh from 1973 to 1977 and was a Real Estate Broker from 1986 to 1995. As evidenced in his election to the Davidson County GOP Hall of Fame, Joe was known for his devotion to the Republican Party, statewide and locally, and enjoyed immensely his hobby as a private pilot even up to his illness. Joe was a veteran of the US Army, having served in World War II, where he served in the 80th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troup and other units from August 31, 1944 to June 29, 1946. He was a member of VFW Post 3074, American Legion Post 8 and Amvets Post 13. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ronald H. Hege, and a sister, Faye Hege Stone. Surviving are; his wife, Jane Owen Hege of the home; one daughter, Karen Watford and husband Sam of Thomasville; two sons, Joe H. Hege, III and wife Marcy of Raleigh and Edwin Hege and wife Jennie of Lexington; seven grandchildren, Jordan Lupton, Dylan Hege, Morgan Watford, Alex Hege, Courtney Hege, Kim Herbert and Jessica McCarl; four great-grandchildren, Owen Lupton, Josh Hayes, Christopher Herbert and Justin Herbert; three brothers, Jack Hege and Don Hege and wife Phyllis all of Lexington and Guy Hege and wife Bobbie of Jamestown; and sister in law, Lucille Hege of Greensboro. Memorials should be directed to Pilgrim Reformed Church, History Room Fund 797 Pilgrim Church Road, Lexington, NC 27295. Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net