Joseph Javhone Wages Sr.

Joseph Javhone Wages, Sr., 92, of Springdale, Ark., passed away Thursday, April 28, 2022. He was a longtime resident of Springdale, Ark. He spent many prior years in the Arkansas River Valley, residing in the Fort Smith and Mulberry area. Joe, as he was fondly known, was born November 24, 1929, in Davenport, Okla., to Charles and Ama (Cowan) Wages. He graduated high school in Alpena, Ark. Joe was one of seven children consisting of five boys and two girls. The family moved many times over his childhood as his father, Charles, was a rural circuit riding Methodist preacher who served congregations around the central United States. Joe enlisted in the United States Navy and Air Force, serving during the Korean War Conflict. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii and San Diego California during his Navy tours and later at Little Rock Air Force base working in meteorology. He spent several years in submarines off the coast of California with at that time some of the newest equipment the military had to offer. He also served as a police officer for the City of Siloam Springs Arkansas during the 1960's. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1966 and was a lifetime Razorback fan. Joe also was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and a Dallas Cowboys football fan. He could tell you anything you wanted to know about any of his favorite teams. Joe was an accomplished pilot and had logged thousands of hours of flight time. He enjoyed telling folks that he was very lucky to have survived two crashes during his career. Bad weather forced him to land on a highway on one occasion and with the help of law enforcement he took off and resumed his flight. During his early years, Joe enjoyed hunting and fishing as he was an avid outdoorsman. Joe was a 33rd-degree Mason and a member of the Oark Masonic Lodge in Oark, Ark. Joe was married to Melva Lorraine Wages in which they had three sons-Joseph Javhone Wages, Jr., Timothy Neal Wages, and Richard Melvin Wages. He loved his family very much and enjoyed the times they would all get together for dinners or holiday occasions. Joe is survived by his three children, Joseph Wages, Jr. (Marsa) of Celina, Texas, Tim Wages (Ashley) of Springdale, Ark., and Richard (Leah) of Springdale, Ark. He was blessed with four grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Wesley Wages, Hope Wages, Austin Wages, and Callie Wages. A memorial service is planned at a later date with burial at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark. The family would like to express their appreciation to the wonderful staff of the Veterans Administration of Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark. for their care of Joe. He loved the services he received from the VA and was not shy to tell folks. The family would also like to express their gratitude to Jonathan and the staff at The Gardens at Arkanshire and Stephanie with NAPS in Springdale, Ark., where he spent his final years. He has made many friends at Arkanshire and refused to go anywhere else.