Joseph Carlyle Harrington

Joseph Carlyle Harrington, of Kannapolis, NC passed away peacefully Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Atrium Tucker Hospice House at the age of 91. 

Joseph was a devoted husband to the love of his life Betty Maxine “Pat” Hilburn Harrington. Joe was the son of Spencer Boyd “Shorty” Harrington and Lida Cates Harrington and was born on June 6, 1933 in Kannapolis, NC.

As a young man Joe played guitar with his father playing at the old Stag and Doe and several radio stations. At A.L. Brown he played in several bands. He graduated from A.L. Brown after serving in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard. Joe served in Company D. Sixth Battalion Second training regiment where he served as instructor for chemical , biological and radiological warfare.

Joe worked in Cannon Mills before and after serving in the Army with a total of 40 plus years of service. In the 70’s he coached a women’s softball team from the washcloth department. His wife Pat was the pitcher.

The majority of Joe’s tenure at Cannon Mills and Fieldcrest Cannon was in supervision. He was an advocate for the first female fixer in the mill when the position was normally occupied by male employees. He stood up for his employees and he could essentially run any department, and covered 3 states.

After leaving Fieldcrest Cannon he worked at Belmont Textile Mills where the challenge was to make the mill profitable for resale. He met the challenge by making the efficiency productivity and quality better and even cancelling the Country Club memberships, the company sold for Millions more than expected.

Joe’s last job was working with a Japanese owned company in Charlotte known as Tateishi of America designing, producing and selling slubber cans all over the world. The cans were used in the textile industry. Joe traveled to Mexico, Budapest, Austria, and Hungary creating manufacturing companies for these cans.

Joe always thrived when faced with a challenge, therefore he usually worked a side job outside of his regular job.

In the late 60’s Joe studied electronics, earning the equivalent of a Masters degree and actually built a color TV and gave to his mother. He then began repairing mostly Zenith TV’s. After bulbs were no longer in TV’s, he started repairing chainsaws, lawn mowers, and weed eaters.

When Joe repaired an item he had a method that was his way, he would always figure it out.

Joe was the neighborhood “fix it” man when he was physically able. He also tutored math when asked.

He was always willing to help anyone who needed help, no matter the hour. He enjoyed the challenge and his integrity made him a man of his word.

Joe enjoyed the staff and eating breakfast at Townhouse II, West A Street Grill and Waffle House. He was always amazed when a stranger would say “Jerry are you in town for the game?” He would reply “My name is Joe” The stranger thought he was Jerry Jones the owner of the Dallas Cowboys when they were in town for a Panther’s game.

Joseph is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, William (infancy), Kenneth and David and sister Joyce, and his love of his life Betty Maxine “Pat” Hilburn Harrington.

Survivors include daughter and caregiver, Roxanne Hunter (Richard), Granddaughter Tara Hunter (Carr Jones) and grandson Alan Hunter (Amanda Galloway) and a very special niece Star Kelly and Husband Rick along with other nieces and nephews.

Thank you to the Doctors and Nurses and staff at Atrium Northeast and Atrium Tucker Hospice House staff along with his neighbor Jennifer.

Visitation will be at Whitley’s Funeral Home on Friday November 15, from 11:00 to 12:00 PM and graveside service following the visitation at Carolina Memorial Park, officiating by Pastor Jonathan Barnette.

Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus Co., 5003 Hospice Ln. Kannapolis, NC 28083.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.