Joseph Wayne Tolley

Joseph Wayne Tolley, 87 years young, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 12, 2026. Joe was preceded in death by his brother, William Ray Tolley, and his parents, Herbert R.
and Edith L. Tolley.

Joe is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dreama Tolley; his daughters, Laurie Maple, of Fayetteville, NC and Rebecca Rink of Charleston, SC; and his son, Joseph R. Tolley and his wife, Carol. Joe is also survived by nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Joe was born in Beckley, West Virginia, began serving his country at the age of 17 and soon found his way to Ft. Bragg, NC, to become an 82 nd Airborne Division Paratrooper. Joe retired as a USAR Recruiter in 1996. When he retired, Joe had more than 35 years of military service and served in Turkey, Dominican Republic, Ft. Bragg and Lake Michigan, MN. Joe earned the following awards/medals: the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 9 oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), National Defense Medal with 1 bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Advanced Level), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Gold Army Recruiter’s Badge with Three Saphire Stars. Joe was presented with the gold Recruiter Ring establishing his place among the Elite in Army Recruiting in his last year as an USAR Recruiter.

Joe worked in the mobile home sales business at The Housing Center on Bragg Boulevard for several years. Joe also served in a variety of positions with the Fayetteville Chapter, 82 nd
Airborne Division Association, Inc. and was Judge Advocate at the time of his passing. Joe was also on the Board of Directors for the 82 nd Airborne Division Historical Society and the 82 nd Airborne Division Memorial Association and was instrumental in raising funds to install the stained-glass windows at the All American Chapel as well as the construction of the Global War
on Terror Memorial and the Preparation for Combat Operations Granite Tower Memorial on the grounds of the 82 nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, Ft. Bragg, NC. One of Joe’s
most cherished memories was accompanying a group of WWII veterans to D-Day Celebrations in France in 2018 as part of the Historical Society Board.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home located at 500 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301 with Pastor John D. Blackman, Jr.
officiating. The visitation with the family will begin at 11:00a.m. with the service starting at 12 noon. A private interment will be held at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to 82 nd Airborne Division Historical Society, PO Box 70119, Ft. Bragg, NC 28307-0119 or online at https://www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com

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