Jospeh Ernest Salter

Killen

Joseph Ernest Salter, 80,of Killen, Alabama passed away December 3, 2024. He was born on June 30,1944 in Alexandria, Louisiana to Edith Maureen (Lane) and Woodrow Madison Salter.

Joe was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Florence, Alabama, serving as Elder and volunteer in the Meals on Wheels program and the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. He served on the Board of Directors of the Montreat Apartments Program involving housing for senior citizens. Joe enjoyed writing hymns and Choral Calls to Worship sung by Westminster congregation members during church services.

Writing limericks and poetry for friends celebrating their birthdays and family fun times was a favorite pastime as well as authoring occasional wildlife articles for publication. "King of the Southern Swamp" was a notable work, featuring his favorite challenge, the wily whitetail buck and true monarch of the remote and beautiful hardwood wilderness.

Joe graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1962 and served as sports editor of the school newspaper, Cumtux. He was a class AAA All-State track and field athlete in the long jump and triple jump events. Joe was a noted pitcher with a vaulted curveball and 10-0 record in youth baseball league competition, once hurling a no-hitter performance in an all-star competition with 18 strikeouts.

In 1966 Joe graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In 1974 after military service, he received a Master's degree in public administration at the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in public relations at Boston University.

In 1966 Joe graduated from Officer Candidate School, U.S. Air Force, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He served a 3-year tour of duty in Europe as public affairs officer at Bitburg and Rhein Mein Air Force Bases in Germany. He performed special duty assignments in Spain as Spanish language interpreter during joint Air Force-Army exercises in Madrid and Seville. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 1969, Joe returned to the U.S. to serve his fourth and final year of military service at Dobbins AFB in Atlanta, Georgia.

Joe then began a 35-year career with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) working first as an epidemiologist (STD) in Los Angeles and as field supervisor in San Francisco. Following his 5-year stint in California, Joe returned to the CDC Atlanta headquarters and served as chief of policy branch management in the Office of the Director, CDC.

His career at CDC entailed a range of responsibilities, including preparation of health-related Congressional testimony for the Director, CDC and official policy document management as CDC Privacy Act Officer. The latter duty involved compliance with statutory confidentiality requirements for medical records of subject individuals involved in epidemiologic studies of disease problems. During his career Joe was also selected to serve on Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) in Washington D.C. in the Office of the Secretary, HHS, formerly HEW, preparing and publishing U.S. Public Health Service regulations.

In his retirement years Joe thoroughly enjoyed a variety of hunting, fishing, and exploring opportunities in the Tennessee River wilderness areas, particularly delightful adventures after his years of living and working in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Frankfurt, and Atlanta.

He married Bessie Valcarcel, a native of Peru, and they enjoyed life together in the Shoals with friends and family. Their trips to South America and Seattle, Washington included enjoyable visits and huge family gatherings. Joe is survived by his loving wife Bessie; his daughter, Judith Ann Salter of Atlanta; his son Brian Bearss of Minneapolis, Minnesota, four grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son James Mark Salter, his parents, and [his brother John Madison Salter of Lilburn, Georgia.] A celebration of life service will be held later this year at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Florence.

Donations may be sent in his memory to: Presbyterian Home for Children, P.O. Box 577, Talladega, AL 35161-9975.