Joe Nell Wang, of Gainesville, GA, longtime and well-known Hall County resident, passed away July 20, 2023.

Mr. Wang was born June 17, 1938, in Manhattan, NY, to Joseph Nathan Wang and Ruby Nell Anthony Wang. Mr. Wang grew up in Hart County, Georgia, graduating from Lavonia High School in 1956. He attended Young Harris College before transferring to the University of Georgia where he received his BSA in Poultry Science in 1960. Upon graduation from college, he joined the US Army, completing his 6 months basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. He then transferred to Georgia National Guard where he served as a Marksman with the CoC (-)105th EngrBN, Lavonia, GA, for a period of 8 years. He began his career with US Department of Agriculture in 1961, working for three years for Dairy and Poultry Market News, Atlanta. In 1963, he accepted a position with USDA Farmers Home Administration, later renamed USDA Rural Development. Mr. Wang was assigned to the Gainesville, GA, Farmers Home Administration office as County Supervisor where he worked a five-county area for about 25 years helping young families obtain financing for their first home and helping small towns in financing water and sewer systems, as well as loans to farmers. In 1989, he was promoted to a position with USDA Rural Development State Office in Athens, GA, as a Loan Officer and later a Federal Civil Rights Officer over the State of Georgia. Mr. Wang retired in December 2003, after 42 ½ years of service. Mr. Wang was a Mason. He was a long time member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Seekers Sunday School Class and served on various committees over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his maternal grandmother, Ethel Vickery Anthony.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 60 years Patsy (Pat) Thompson Wang and his three children, sons Steven Wang (Charity) Buford; Jonathan Wang, (Bhavna) Dallas, GA and daughter Stacie Wang Mavis (Bryan) of Gainesville and five grandchildren: Anna Wang of Atlanta, Sophie Wang of Dallas, Jacob Wang of Buford, Emily Grace and Lauren Mavis, both of Gainesville.

Mr. Wang's funeral will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 404 Washington Street, Gainesville, Monday, July 24 at 2:00 PM. The Rev. Bryan Smith will officiate. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 23 from 3 to 6 PM at the Memorial Park Funeral Home, Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated, or donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 53 Perimeter Center E, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30346. Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504, is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com .

This announcement courtesy of the Strickland funeral Home of Lavonia.