Joe Wiley Estes

Mr. Joe Wiley Estes Sr., age 87, beloved husband of Rosa McDade Estes, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

Mr. Estes was born in Union County, S.C., on June 29, 1936, a son of Clarence Poole Estes and Minnie Lou Ivey Estes. Mr. Estes was a graduate of Union High School Class of '56. He served as co-captain of the football team in 1955. He also played high school basketball.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Estes worked at Carlisle Finishing Company for five years. In June 1961, he began working for the Columbia, S.C police department where he initially walked a downtown "beat." He later joined the department's motorcycle police force. He finished out his law enforcement career as a member of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Mr. Estes remained active in the Trooper Association and attended monthly meetings of Troop 9.

Mr. Estes was predeceased by his first wife, Mable Gault Estes, and was the father of Joe Wiley Estes Jr. of Lexington, S.C.

He is survived by his sisters Ruby Whitmire and Mary Pridemore, sisters-in-law Becky Estes, Jean Estes, Becky Allen, and Shirley Gault and brothers-in-law Charles Williams, LeRoy and Dianne LeMaster, Harold and Patti LeMaster, Gene Pierce, Carol Lloyd, Bennie and Sandy McDade, Bruce and Pat McDade, and Neal and Joyce McDade.

Mr. Estes also was predeceased by six brothers and two sisters including Clarence, Jr., David, George, LeRoy, Bruce, Donald, Martha Mae Williams, and Marion Estes.

Upon his marriage to Rosa McDade Estes in 2007, he became "PaPa" to 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Of his many nicknames including "Dub," J.W. and Joe, his favorite was PaPa J. He was stepfather to Tony and Cam McDade, Ben and Sheryl McDade, Greg and Penny McDade, Kevin and Dee Anne McDade, and Scott and Christy McDade.

The family would like to thank The Springs of Simpsonville, S.C., and National Health Care, Mauldin, S.C., for the compassion shown to Mr. Estes this past year. Appreciation is also extended to each caregiver, especially Beverly and Reta, Lori, and Betty and Zac as well as to Lutheran Hospice of Greenville.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Padgetts Creek Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Carrol Caldwell. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will follow at Union Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Estes' nephews will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Bud Whitmire, David Pridemore, George Pridemore, Donnie Wingers, Tommy Bishop, and Blaine Estes.

Memorial gifts may be made to Padgetts Creek Baptist Church, 843 Old Buncombe Rd., Union, SC 29379 or to Lutheran Hospice of Greenville, 429 N. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601.