Joseph Gaston Bethea

Joseph Gaston Bethea, age 70, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2016. Mr. Bethea was born on February 26, 1946, in Duval County, Florida, to the late Lloyd Elvis and Mary Wilmot Bethea. He was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran having received a Purple Heart. Mr. Bethea was a retired supervisor with Rain Water Construction Company with 30 years of service. He was a life member of Grant Reeves VFW Post #7720. Survivors include his loving wife of 35 years: Joyce Herrin Bethea, Cornelia; sons: Joseph Gaston Bethea, III, Brian Christopher Bethea, James W. Riley, Jr., and Jeffery Van Riley; sisters: Sherry Bethea Abrams and Renee Bethea Reilly; brother: Lloyd Bethea; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 24, 2016, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, Georgia, with Rev. Tim Beasley officiating. Interment will follow in Grant Reeves VFW Memorial Park. Full military honors will be provided by United States Marine Corps Honor Guard, Grant Reeves VFW Post #7720, Habersham County American Legion Post #84, and Rabun County DAV Chapter #15. The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at the funeral home. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Habersham County Veterans Wall of Honor, P.O. Box 298, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Those wishing to express online condolences to the family may do so by visiting www.whitfieldfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, South Chapel, 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia. 706-778-7123