September 6, 2021, 36, Goldsboro –
Joseph VanVoltenburg, Jr., resident of the Goldsboro area and formerly of Mount Olive, passed away Monday morning, September 6, 2021 on his 36th birthday.
Joseph was a member of the 2003 graduating class of Southern Wayne High School. He then received an associate’s degree in general studies from Wayne Community College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in both history and business administration from East Carolina University. Later he obtained his master’s degree in business from East Carolina as well.
Joseph gained employment with the Mt. Olive Pickle Company when he was but a teenager, and after college, he became their demand planner and scheduler. After his tenure with the “pickle people,” he did some business consulting work. At the time of his passing, he was employed with Acushnet, a golf apparel company, in its project configuration department, and also with TwinLab, a pharmaceutical company, as its demand planner. Both of these assignments were performed remotely from Joseph’s home.
Joseph was a member of Emmaus Baptist Church, was an astute East Carolina Pirates fan, so much that it was said that he bled purple and gold! He enjoyed all Pirate sports but was partial to its football and baseball plays. Being the sports enthusiast that he was, he enjoyed playing golf. He was a huge Orioles baseball fan as well as a Carolina Hurricanes hockey fan. Joseph also loved the blues genre of music. Ever a family man, Joseph loved his family fiercely and would do anything that he could to accommodate their needs and wishes.
Joseph will be laid to rest next to his father, Joseph VanVoltenburg, Sr. in the Pate Cemetery near Mount Olive following a graveside service which will be held Thursday, September 9, at 11 a.m. The family will greet friends at the cemetery at the conclusion of the service. At other times, friends and family are welcome to gather at the home of Joseph’s mother, Peggy, at 704 Francis Street in Mount Olive (across the street from the funeral home). In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorial gifts be in the form of donations for future educational expenses for Joseph and Maria’s children. Such gifts should be presented to either Joseph’s wife or mother, made payable to either, for their placement in said fund.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Maria Cartagena-VanVoltenburg, and their children, Austin (age 17), Haven (age 11), and Joseph III, known as “Trae,” (age 4), all of the home; his mother, Peggy Brock VanVoltenburg, of Mount Olive; two sisters, Dr. Amy Harper and husband, Overton, of Kernersville, and Melissa Boyd and husband, Justin, of Washington, NC. He is also survived by niece, Hayden Harper, and nephew, Brock Boyd; uncle and aunt, Perry Brock, Jr. and Ellen Brock of Raeford; numerous cousins; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Willie and Tammy Cartagena of Dudley; brother-in-law, Chris Cartagena of Dudley; and special friends to include Randy and Jessica Kornegay of Seven Springs, and Phil and Rebecca Tarsi of Myrtle Beach, SC.
