Mr. Joseph Randolph Fluharty Sr.

Joseph Randolph Fluharty, 99, passed away on Friday, December 27. He was the son of William Barry and Lorena Hedgpeth Fluharty. Born in Greensboro on July 18, 1914, he spent his early childhood in Petersburg, Virginia. He moved to Asheville when he was 12. He graduated from Asheville High School and worked nights and weekends to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1941, Joe married Eleanor Martin Sale (Skip) of Asheville. Their marriage of 72 years has been one of complete devotion and has served as a model for their children and grandchildren. Joe worked for a time as a chemist at the VA Hospital in Asheville. He then joined Champion Papers, Inc where he worked for the next 42 years. He pioneered early work in environmental controls, working with state boards to develop standards for air and stream emissions. During World War II, Joe volunteered for the Army and served until 1946. After the war, Joe returned to Asheville and his work at Champion Papers. He and Skip built their home in Malvern Hills where they have lived for 62 years. Joe loved the mountains and hiked often with Skip and his children. He had a variety of hobbies including woodworking, gardening and winemaking. He was naturally curious about many areas of science and he read voraciously. At age 82, he bought his first computer and used it daily. He had a great sense of humor and an infectious smile. He was a gentle man full of love for his family. He was especially fond of little children and was never afraid to let his inner child come out and play. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and by his two brothers and sister: William B. Fluharty, Jr., Warren P. Fluharty, and Betty F. Lifsey. Surviving Joe are his wife, Eleanor Sale Fluharty, daughter Ellen Fluharty Howe (and her husband, Ev), son Joseph Randolph (Randy) Fluharty, Jr.(and his wife Beth), four grandchildren : Jeffrey Hall (Jocelyn), Eleanor Fluharty, Tricia Hall Coghlan(Jeremy), and Tom Fluharty (Brook), and three great grandchildren: Parker Coghlan, Judah Hall, and Hadley Coghlan. A service will be held on Saturday, January 4, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church in Asheville. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee.

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Mr. Joseph Randolph Fluharty Sr.

July 18, 1914 - December 27, 2013