Joe Virgil "Bud" Dasher, Jr.

Joe Virgil “Bud” Dasher, Jr., 94, of Valdosta, passed away on August 9, 2019 at Langdale Hospice House. A lifelong resident of Valdosta, he was born on October 31, 1924 to the late Joe Virgil Dasher, Sr. and Lee Ila Cline Dasher. All who knew Bud knew of his love for his hometown and his family. He worked with his Daddy as a plumber during his early years, before joining the Navy soon after his graduation from Valdosta High School in 1942. He actively served as a Seabee in Okinawa during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge and return to Valdosta, he started his own propane gas business, eventually starting Dasher Harris LP Gas Co. After a successful career in the gas business, he sold the company and along with a group of investor friends started Candyland, Inc. Within Candyland and other entities, he was involved in the hotel and restaurant business, clothing and towel shops, convenience stores, gas stations, a golf course development and a billboard sign company. He loved business and retired at age 80. Bud was a longtime member of Northside Baptist Church and would share his Christian Faith with anyone that he could. He loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to love Him. In his spare time, Bud loved to golf and fish. He enjoyed being outdoors and planted two large pecan orchards. He loved working with his grape vines and fruit trees and tinkering in his workshop. According to his wife, Audrey, Bud was the most frugal, but generous man she had ever met. He was frugal with himself, but generous with everyone else. The full extent of all the help he gave to his friends, associates and family will never be known. In early 2000, Bud realized that Valdosta needed a heart center. He and Audrey were the primary benefactors and were actively involved in the opening of the Dasher Memorial Heart Center, named in honor of his parents. He has also been a member of the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation Board for many years. The Heart Center has remained near and dear to his heart and he was very proud of all the staff and the physicians and the technologies at the Heart Center, which has become a regional destination for those experiencing heart problems. In most recent years, Bud worked with Georgia Christian School in Dasher to help fund their new middle school, the Joe Virgil Dasher Middle School and with fundraising for the new high school. The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers, friends and neighbors who have been such a help during the past few months.
Survivors include his wife Audrey Tomlinson Dasher of Valdosta, two daughters and a son in law, Patricia ‘Patti’ & Jim Bethea of Jacksonville, FL and Susan Merritt of Avondale Estates; a son and daughter in law, Joe V. III and Lisa Dasher of Starke, FL; a step son and daughter in law, Tommy & Veronica Dampier of Valdosta; 9 grandchildren, Lauren (Brian) Bercaw of Venice, FL, Amy (Matt) Del Rocco of Jacksonville, FL, John (Charlotte) Merritt of Stone Mountain, Allie Dasher and Taylor Dasher, both of Starke, FL, Brandon (Mary Ellen) Dampier of Marietta, Brent (Dee Dee) Dampier of West Virginia, Bree (Jason) Peake of Athens and Ben (Denise) Dampier of Palm Springs, CA. Also surviving is a sister in law, Gerri T. Sutphin of Thomasville, 15 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Bud is preceded in death by two sisters, Lillian Cowart and Annette Johnson, and a stepson, Karon ‘K.D.’ Dampier.
The funeral for Mr. Dasher will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 12, 2019 at Northside Baptist Church. Dr. Robbie Foster and Rev. Gary Woods will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Georgia Christian School, 4359 Dasher Road, Valdosta, GA 31601 or the Dasher Memorial Heart Center, c/o the SGMC Foundation, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA 31603. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home