Joe Whelchel

Services for Joe Mack Whelchel, 81, of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Monday at Under the Blood Church, 401 W. 7 ^th in Ada. Pastor Carolyn Hicks will officiate. Burial will follow at Pontotoc Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Criswell Funeral Home. The U. S. Navy Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.

Mr. Whelchel passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at a local hospital. He was born October 13, 1938 at Pontotoc to Earl and Viola Peppers Whelchel. He lived in Pontotoc and Johnston Counties all his life. He attended Roff grade school and graduated from Pontotoc High School in 1956.

Joe married Shirley Doyel August 18, 1958 and had two daughters, Dawn Renee and Kay Lynn. Shirley preceded him in death March 28, 2005. He later married Linda C. Bostic September 10, 2005 in Ada. Mr. Whelchel served in the U. S. Navy and later the Naval Reserve, and was stationed in Japan, Hawaii, Virginia, New York and Washington, D. C.. Mr. Whelchel worked as a custodian at Ada High School for 25 years after retiring from the Navy. Joe enjoyed fishing, raising chickens and going to garage sales. Joe also enjoyed working at auctions.

Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; a daughter, Dawn Tadlock and husband Earnest, Ada; step-daughter, Christy Washington and husband Darrell, Macon, GA; a step-son, Donald James, Jr. and wife Christy, Muskogee; two brothers, Gene Whelchel, Ada and Bill Whelchel and wife Imogene, Connerville; a sister, Doris Timmons, Moore; his grandchildren, Michelle Thornhill and husband Mark, Pontotoc, and Christopher Pearce, Ada, Cherilyn, Earnest, Jr., Mikayla "Emmy" Tadlock and Asheli Potts, all of Ada, Cameron James, Ada and Devin James, Muskogee; and five great-grandsons, Jesse, Austin and Dustin of Pontotoc; Dalton and Preston of Ardmore; and a great-granddaughter, Raeleigh of Ardmore; a special friend, Jennifer Otto, Fitzhugh; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Shirley Whelchel; a daughter, Kay flowers; and a sister, Ethel Burden.

Bearers will be Cameron James, Earnest Tadlock, Mark Thornhill, Tony Whelchel, Lynn Timmons, Dave Timmons and Devin James. Honorary bearers will be Donald James, Jr. and Joe Frank and Christopher Pearce.