Joe Edward Lancaster

Joe Lancaster, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2019 after a long battle with dementia.  He was born an identical twin on June 11, 1929 to Ed and Dimple Lancaster.  His college sweetheart, Betty Inman, preceded him in death after 65 years of marriage. Raised in the farming community of Lancaster, Tennessee, Joe graduated from Gordonsville High School.  He and his brother, Jim, attended Tennessee Tech University on a football scholarship where both excelled. Upon graduation Joe married Betty Inman of Ten Mile, Tennessee and began his career as an agent with the Farm Bureau in Smith County, moving to Columbia, Tennessee in 1954 to become the company’s first sales manager.  He retired as CEO of Tennessee Farmers Insurance Company in 1994, after 43 highly successful years.  His love for people and his warmth, positivity, and energy led to many volunteer and board roles, including the Boy Scouts, First Farmers and Merchants Bank, Maury Regional Hospital, Maury United Way, and the National Association of Independent Insurers.  Mr Lancaster was the first non-attorney on the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission and served on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for several years.  Annual summer trips became a cherished tradition for Mr and Mrs. Lancaster and their children and grandchildren, having spent a week every summer with one another during the past thirty five years.  Mr. Lancaster’s eleven grandchildren are blessed to have known him especially well, viewing him as a man of integrity and someone to emulate, as well as their beloved Poppa.  He is survived by his brother, Jim Lancaster of Lebanon, Tennessee and his four children - Betty Jo (Andy) Currie of Atlanta, Georgia, Peggy (Frank) McWhorter of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Emily (Ben) McKnight and Ed (Carrie) Lancaster all of Columbia, Tennessee as well as 11 grandchildren - Tyler (Robby) Wynne, Lucy (Andy) Folsom, Anderson Currie, Lewis (Sandrine) Fowler, John McWhorter, Meg McWhorter, Boone Lancaster (fiancé’ Billie Ford), Leighton Lancaster, Emma (Payton) Bradford, Joe (Lucia) McKnight and Louise McKnight.  Nine great grandchildren - Lucy and Charlie Wynne, Anderson, Healthley, Currie and Roscoe Folsom, Aster Fowler, and Molly and Hal McKnight.  The Lancaster family is especially grateful to Mr. Lancaster’s devoted caregivers - Burnice Bellafant, Kay Lott, Kristie Pillow and Elizabeth Richardson as well as the staff of NHC.  Donations may be made on behalf of Mr. Lancaster to First United Methodist Church of Columbia and Duck River Boy Scouts of America.  Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Melinda Britt and Reverend Lory Catlett officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at the church. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.