Francis Yeager

Walkertown-Francis Joseph Yeager, Jr., 63, eldest son of the late Honorable Frank J. Yeager and Grace Dobbins Yeager Lundergan who survives, passed away September 8, 2014. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 12:30PM Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville, with Father Paul Dechant, O.S.F.S. officiating. The family will visit with friends immediately following the service in Salesian Hall at Holy Cross Church. Interment will be in Gardens of Memory in Walkertown. Joe was born July 22, 1951 in Winston-Salem. His youth was spent on a farm in Yadkinville, and in 1964 the family moved to Walkertown. He graduated from North Forsyth High School in 1970 where he lettered in football, golf, and wrestling. He graduated from East Carolina University in 1974 where he played football, wrestled, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. He began a career in the US Navy in 1975 and earned the rank of Lieutenant while serving on the USS Blue Ridge in the Engineering and Operations Departments. Following his career in the Navy, Joe worked for Cubic, Tektronix, and Xerox corporations. He later worked as a headhunter in the semiconductor industry. Joe enjoyed his 46-foot sailboat, Generic, which he sailed single-handedly from San Diego, through the Panama Canal to the east coast of Florida. He enjoyed playing golf, campfires, celestial navigation, cooking and time with his nieces and nephews. Joe had a heart of gold and often went out of his way to quietly help someone else have a better life. Like a true sailor, Joe’s favorite saying was “If we can enjoy the hurricanes in port, we'll love them out at sea.” In addition to his mother Grace Lundergan and her husband Bob of Kernersville, Joe also was the beloved brother of Kathy McClain and Gary of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Chris Williams and Bo of Brevard, NC, Jenny Brown and Tal of Advance, NC, Elizabeth Fisher and Jim of Pinehurst, NC, Carolyn Hall and George of Oak Ridge, NC, and Ben Yeager and Harriett of Clemmons, NC; Joe was uncle to 28 nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed by a large and loving family. Friends and family may sign, and view the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made to the Matthew Gfeller Foundation at www.matthewgfellerfoundation.org/donating/; or The Matthew Gfeller Foundation, 2880 Galsworthy Drive, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106. Service Information