Joe D. Savage

Joe D. Savage was born on April 24, 1942 in Danville, Virginia to Joe and Jean (Foard) Savage.  The family moved many times while Joe was growing up including a move to Medellin, Columbia where Joe became fluent in Spanish.  This is also where he learned to play soccer, which became a life-long sport for him as a player, coach and spectator.

Joe graduated from Virginia Tech where he was member of the Corps of Cadets and on the soccer team.  He received a degree in Industrial Engineering.  Later, he would receive his MBA from the University of South Carolina.

After graduating from Virginia Tech, Joe and Barbara were married and Joe went on active duty as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers.  He served in Vietnam from 1966 – 1967.  Upon leaving active duty service and being in the reserves, Joe went to work as an Industrial Engineer for several companies.

Over the years, he enjoyed coaching his son in soccer and was instrumental in starting a youth soccer program in Columbia, South Carolina.  He also enjoyed watching his son compete on a state and national level in wrestling and his daughter in gymnastics.

Joe was a servant of the Lord.  In DeLand, Florida, he was instrumental in starting and opening a kitchen for the homeless to have a hot meal five nights a week and a place to sleep in cold weather.  He went on many mission trips both domestically and internationally.  He volunteered in several capacities at Christ Church Plano.  He was a Gideon and loved giving out new testaments to spread the Word.

Since living in Plano, Joe loved watching his grandchildren play soccer and watching soccer at Parish Episcopal School – rarely missing any games.

Joe will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and servant of the Lord.

Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara; children, Shannon Elizabeth Savage Couzens (Bryan Couzens) and Craig Stuart Savage (Lori Faulkner Savage); grandchildren, Cole, Raye, Jake, Declan, Carly and Emily and great grandchildren, David and Colton. His is also survived by his sister, Judy Savage Higginbotham (Henry Higginbotham).  He was preceded in death by his parents and foster daughter, Vicki Powell.

There will be a Memorial Service at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Christ Church Plano, 4550 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75024 with a reception to follow.

If it is your wish, the family suggests donations to:

--Christ Church Plano discretionary fund, 4550 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75024

--Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, Phone: (855) 448-3997, www.woundedwarriorproject.org

--Tunnels to Towers, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306, Phone: (718) 987-1931, www.tunnel2towers.org