Joseph Willis Guyton

Joseph “Joe” Willis Guyton, Sr. 86 of Charlotte (formerly of Linden and Fayetteville), passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2022.  Joe was born on July 2, 1936, in Bladen County to the late Fred and Evie Huggins Guyton. 
Joe spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and was a decorated and disabled veteran who proudly served in the Vietnam War.  After retiring from the military as a master sergeant, he began his career with Kelly Springfield Tire Co. in Fayetteville where he worked for an additional 18 years.
Joe was a member of the Port Tampa Masonic Lodge in Florida and later joined the Shriner’s Sudan Temple in Fayetteville where he enjoyed volunteering and raising money for the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Joe was a private pilot with a passion for flying.  His service orientation led him to serve in the Civil Air Patrol where he held the rank of major.  For fun, one of his favorite pastimes was simply taking off and “boring holes” in the sky.  He never missed an opportunity to take a novice on their first flight, and thoroughly enjoyed the excitement clearly visible on their face as a result.  An example of his outstanding airmanship and quick thinking occurred one fateful flight 11 years ago, when Joe was credited with saving the lives of three of his grandsons, who were flying with him at the time, after his single engine airplane had an engine failure.  While the aircraft could not be saved, all four passengers walked away relatively unscathed.  
Joe was also an avid traveler who enjoyed exploring the U.S. in his motor home.  From Yuma, Arizona, to New England, to Alaska, no journey was too far or too arduous to undertake.  For trips less farther afield, he had a special fondness for the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.  Joe used many of these trips as special bonding experiences with his grandchildren, who eagerly looked forward each summer to the journeys they would take with him and Grandma.
Joe was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Danika Perez, siblings, Geneva Carroll, Pearl Dallas, Earl Guyton, Freddie Guyton, Hubert Guyton, and Gerald Guyton.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Geraldine Guyton; children, Joseph W. Guyton, Jr. and wife Liz, Martha Lynn Pronier and husband Barry, Ronald Keith Guyton; grandchildren, Christian Guyton and wife Erica, Joel Dabbieri, Alexander Guyton and wife Karina, Jack Pronier, Nathaniel Guyton; grandson-in-law, Mitch Perez; great grandchildren, Sebastyan Perez, Kace Guyton, and Cameron Guyton.
A special note of appreciation to Joe’s niece Karynjo Guyton and family friend Gwen Chavis for their kind, loving care.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 12 noon at Jernigan-Warren Chapel.  The family will receive friends from 11-12 prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park at 1 pm. 
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com

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