James "Joe" Yelton, age 86, of Forest City, passed away Monday, August 31, 2026 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Forest City.
Joe was born Thursday, December 21, 1939 in Rutherford County to the late Ernest V. Yelton and Jessie Hutchins Yelton. He worked in textiles most of his life, having worked for Drexel Mill in Morganton, Burlington Industries and retired from the J.C. Cowan plant. In his early years, he played as a pitcher for the traveling American Legion Baseball team. Later he played softball up into his later years. Joe was also an avid fisherman and deer hunter. He was a member of the Spindale Fellowship Holiness Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-one years, Geneva Waters Yelton and five sisters, Josephine Fish, Thelma Holland, Faye Walls, Margie Sisk and Edna Mott.
Those left to cherish his memory include his sons, Dennis Yelton (Lynn) of Sunshine, Jeff Yelton (Lucy) of Forest City, Michael Yelton (Sherri) of Forest City; daughters, Debbie Brower (Darren) of Harris and Brenda Kuhl (Michael) of Rutherfordton. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 3rd at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Dennis Yelton and Reverend Doug Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow at the Fellowship Holiness Cemetery with the committal service being led by Reverend Chad Sisk and Reverend Bobby Brown. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.
Memorial donations are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.
Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com