Billy Joe Felker

Billy Joe Felker passed away May 25th, 2025 at the age of 87 due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He is preceded in death by his father Andrew Elmer Felker, mother Ada Estelle Felker and siblings Lloyd, Eva and Sadie. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years Gwynn Felker, sons Greg (Belinda) Felker, Mark (Carole) Felker, Eric (Kellie) Felker, his granddaughters Jordan (Blake) Redmon, Haley (Justin) Boulton, great granddaughters Charlie, Sophie and Emma and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was born in Minor Hill, TN and went to Minor Hill high school where he played basketball and met Gwynn. They were married on August 1st 1956 in Iuka Mississippi. After a brief stint living in Ohio, they moved back to Tennessee to start their family. Joe began working at the Nashville Ford glass plant in 1961 and retired after 40 years in 2001. He also had a successful lawn care business that he and his sons did together for over 25 years.

At the age of 40, to stay in better shape, Joe took up running. He was a member of the Nashville Striders Club and ran in competitive races throughout Middle Tennessee during the 1980’s. While working two jobs, he managed to train for and run in multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice. He set a goal to run until he turned age 80 and was able to meet that goal where he transitioned to walking almost every day or bicycling on the Natchez Trace Parkway. He was an avid Alabama football and Kentucky basketball fan and attended Titans games for several years. Joe was a member of the Pegram Church of Christ. He was a loving husband and father, precious “Papa Joe”, a quiet, kind, good, honest and honorable man.

The family will be receiving friends on Monday, June 2nd, 2025, between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow. Interment will be at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Hwy 100 Nashville, TN.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a Parkinson’s research foundation of your choice.