Obituaries
Joe Lane Ervin
( September 18, 1929 - August 29, 2018 )
Rev. Joe Lane Ervin, age 88, of 966 Royal Drive in Lincolnton died at his home August 29, 2018.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday September 1, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Boger City United Methodist Church.
The family will receive friends at Boger City UMC in the fellowship hall from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm on Friday August 31st.
Rev. Ervin was born September 18, 1929 in Buncombe County. He was the son of the late Rev. McKinley Gladstone Ervin and Elizabeth Williams Ervin. He received his undergraduate degree from High Point University and then graduated from Duke University Divinity School. Rev. Ervin served churches in Stokesdale, Greensboro, Spruce Pine and Boger City United Methodist Church where he served as minister for 16 years. The last 12 years of his career, Joe served as conference director of ethnic ministry and rural churches. Joe retired from the conference in 1994, but joyfully continued in his role of building churches for those in need with the help of his small army of long time beloved volunteers. These friends were gracious in receiving a phone call from Joe saying “The Lord Hath Need of Thee”. He was well known for his great sense of humor and his friends were accustomed to receiving these calls.
Joe was passionate about the mission of Hinton Rural Life, a Methodist Retreat Center in Hayesville, NC. He dedicated much time into building the dining hall, kitchen, and other significant buildings there. In 2003, he was honored by having the next planned retreat home named Joe Ervin Retreat House, which he helped build. Ervin is credited with more than doubling the existing facilities at Hinton Rural Life from the first cabin that he built in 1987.
Rev. Ervin built 134 churches in the US and overseas. He is currently Pastor Emeritus at Boger City United Methodist Church. He was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalyn M. Ervin; daughters, Susan Ervin Michael (Larry), and Alice Lane Ervin; son, Mike Pitman (Anne Craven), brother Winfred Ervin and wife Virginia; sister-in-law, Alice Kennedy Ervin; grandchildren, Daniel Finger, Jennifer Finger Miller (Josh), Cody McLean (Kenzie), and Heidi Elizabeth Garaas of Mooresville, NC; two great grandchildren, Lanie Elizabeth Miller and Allison Grace Miller.
Memorials may be made to Boger City United Methodist Church where he has lovingly been called “Preacher Joe” since 1967.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday September 1, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Boger City United Methodist Church.
The family will receive friends at Boger City UMC in the fellowship hall from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm on Friday August 31st.
Rev. Ervin was born September 18, 1929 in Buncombe County. He was the son of the late Rev. McKinley Gladstone Ervin and Elizabeth Williams Ervin. He received his undergraduate degree from High Point University and then graduated from Duke University Divinity School. Rev. Ervin served churches in Stokesdale, Greensboro, Spruce Pine and Boger City United Methodist Church where he served as minister for 16 years. The last 12 years of his career, Joe served as conference director of ethnic ministry and rural churches. Joe retired from the conference in 1994, but joyfully continued in his role of building churches for those in need with the help of his small army of long time beloved volunteers. These friends were gracious in receiving a phone call from Joe saying “The Lord Hath Need of Thee”. He was well known for his great sense of humor and his friends were accustomed to receiving these calls.
Joe was passionate about the mission of Hinton Rural Life, a Methodist Retreat Center in Hayesville, NC. He dedicated much time into building the dining hall, kitchen, and other significant buildings there. In 2003, he was honored by having the next planned retreat home named Joe Ervin Retreat House, which he helped build. Ervin is credited with more than doubling the existing facilities at Hinton Rural Life from the first cabin that he built in 1987.
Rev. Ervin built 134 churches in the US and overseas. He is currently Pastor Emeritus at Boger City United Methodist Church. He was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalyn M. Ervin; daughters, Susan Ervin Michael (Larry), and Alice Lane Ervin; son, Mike Pitman (Anne Craven), brother Winfred Ervin and wife Virginia; sister-in-law, Alice Kennedy Ervin; grandchildren, Daniel Finger, Jennifer Finger Miller (Josh), Cody McLean (Kenzie), and Heidi Elizabeth Garaas of Mooresville, NC; two great grandchildren, Lanie Elizabeth Miller and Allison Grace Miller.
Memorials may be made to Boger City United Methodist Church where he has lovingly been called “Preacher Joe” since 1967.
Posted on 30 Aug 2018
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521