Justus J. “Jess” Wingard, Jr., age 94, died July 25, 2017 at The Pines of Davidson, NC with his family by his side. Mr. Wingard was born May 12, 1923 in Greenville, SC, and was the youngest son of the late Nancy Elizabeth Wingard and Justus Jonas Wingard. He married Mary Frances Fulk who lived in Charlotte NC on June 24, 1944. Enlisting in the Army Air Corp in1942, he served in the 8th Airforce in England as a B-24 Bomber pilot in War World II.
Mr. Wingard worked most of his life in the construction industry, starting as a clerk with Delph Hardware and Specialty Company and working his way up to the position of Executive Vice President. After leaving Delph Hardware, he opened his own building specialty company, Davis and Wingard Associates in 1976 and then he retired in 1986. He was a past president of Producers Council, a director in the Construction Specification Institute, and was a life member as an Architectural Hardware Consultant.
His civic duties included serving on the Lincoln County Literacy Council, board member of the Lincoln County American Red Cross, and a volunteer for East Lincoln Home Meals on Wheels. He also served for 10 years as Secretary-Treasurer for the Westport Golf Association.
Mr. Wingard was a member of Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, NC where he served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and a member of the choir. He loved his God, his wife, his family, his church, his community, his friends and the game of golf.
Jess was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years , Honey Frances Wingard, his daughter, Joyce Rogers, and his granddaughter, Danielle Horne. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Hunter, his children, Mike Wingard and Susan Dupuis, and grandchildren, Karen Smith, Julie Foster, Nicole Munoz-Lopez, Kimberly Dupuis, Joshua Wingard, and Nicholas Wingard. In addition, he is survived by many loving family and friends.
Jess, known as Daddy Jess to his family and friends, had a love for music and dancing, a passion for helping others, and a love for animals. His tranquil moments were spent gazing at Lake Norman, feeding the birds and the fishes. Daddy Jess was well organized and a planner to the end, including writing this obituary.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 29th at 1 pm at Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, NC. Interment will be at the Unity Presbyterian Church cemetery immediately following the service. The family will greet friends in the Fellowship Hall following the burial.
Friends may send memorials to Unity Presbyterian Church, 8210 Unity Church Road, Denver, NC 28037. The Raymer-Kepner funeral home in Huntersville, NC is serving the family.
