Joffre Woodrow Strother

Joffre Woodrow Strother, 90, of Edgewood Ave., Morganton died Friday, August 7, 2009, at his residence following an extended illness. He was born November 11, 1918 in Caldwell County and was a son of the late Otis Furman Strother, Sr. and Minnie Rice Strother. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Helen Pientka Strother; a brother, Otis F. Strother, Jr.; and by sisters, Roslyn Strother Burgess, Olivia Strother Keyes, and Virginia Strother Sime Kirsten.Mr. Strother graduated from Lenoir High School in 1936 and worked at the Carlheim Hotel until he joined the U. S. Army in 1942. Joffre was a veteran of World War II and was stationed in Alaska from 1942 until 1945 when he was honorably discharged and was awarded the Victory Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque to Special Troop SCU 1907. He retired in 1980 from sales in the clothing industry and was an avid golfer, amateur photographer, and danced like Fred Astaire. Joffre was a Master Mason of Catawba Valley Lodge 217, 32° Mason of the Scottish Rite, and a member of the Shriner Oasis Temple in Charlotte, a Life member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #193, and member of the International Order of the Lions Club. He was also a member of Grace Episcopal Church for 51 years.Surviving are nephews, Ron Strother Sime and Steve Vaughn Sime, both of Lenoir, brother-in-law, Joe Pientka, of Petersburg, VA; and a number of great nieces, great nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2009, at Burke Memorial Park with the Rev. Bruce Walker officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted by Catawba Valley Masonic Lodge #217. Memorials in Mr. Strother’s memory may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 300 S. King Street, Morganton, NC 28655, the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, c/o The Burke County Shrine Club, PO Box 695, Morganton NC 28680, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to the Catawba Valley Masonic Lodge #217, PO Box 215, Morganton NC 28680. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.