Joseph Stoker Rawls Sr.

Joseph Stoker Rawls, Sr., 103, passed away on March 17, 2026, peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family. Born May 1, 1922, Joe was the son of Benjamin Harrison and Alva Marie Stoker Rawls, of Dresden, TN.

At the outbreak of World War II in December 1941, at age 19, Joe enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a gunner on a gun crew transporting supplies and troops in the Atlantic and across the Pacific, and later becoming a plane captain in the 12th Air Wing, maintaining Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter planes destined for US carriers. After the war, Joe attended the University of Tennessee, graduating with a degree in Accounting. He was married in 1954 in Saint Peter Catholic Church, Covington, LA, to Ruth Helen “Muggins” Burns, the daughter of Albert and Madeleine Planche Burns. She preceded him in death in 2018 after 63 years of marriage.

After living in Milan, TN for a few years, Joe and Ruth moved to Covington in 1961 where he worked for the Internal Revenue Service until his retirement in 1982. Joe helped raise 7 children, and enjoyed raising cattle, fishing and hunting. He was a prominent member of a core group who worked to establish the private school formerly known as River Forest Academy, now known as Kehoe-France School, Covington location.

He is survived by his seven children, Joe, Ben (Sharon), Steve, Tom (Sheila), John (Tammy), Mary (Jay McCann), and JC; Fifteen grandchildren, Ben (Anabella), Matthew, Madeleine (Ragen Robinson), Anna, Alex, Sarah, JC (Jess), Michael, and David Rawls, Amanda (AJ Holland), Ryan McCann, Amelia and Adam McCann, Cody (Melissa) and Jake (Morgan) Rawls; Nine great-grandchildren, Emily and Charlie Rawls, Mac and Harrison Robinson, Christopher and Riley Rawls, Ava and Alice Holland, and Isla Rawls. He is also survived by nieces JoAnn Burns Hebert (Jay), Sarah Burns Fernandez (Barry), and Carol Burns Marques (late Joe). He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, brothers Thomas (Viola) and Frank (Mary Benell) Rawls and nephews Stan and Doug Rawls, and niece Madeleine Burns.

He was affectionately known by family, especially his many grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Pa Rawls”.

Funeral services and burial will be private.