Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

January 3, 2024

Jack Leo Caldwell, 88, passed away on January 3, 2024.

Jack was born June 19, 1935 to the late Ernest Caldwell and Eula Bolick Caldwell, and raised in rural Charlotte, NC. He worked on his family farm and sawmill. He married Elaine and joined the Charlotte Fire Department in his early 20s. He rose to the rank of Captain and retired after 28 years at the age of 49. Jack was the designated cook on all his shifts, as the cook ate for free. He managed to save money and become a world-class “country chef”, a skill that his family, in particular, appreciated. After retiring, Jack, Jolene and Karen moved to a 50-acre patch of woods in Gaffney, SC. With two fish ponds, and all manner of wildlife sharing their land, they had a little piece of heaven (if one could avoid the black snakes).

Growing up, Jack was catching rabbits in his selfmade wooden box traps by age 6. He fished and deer hunted well into his 80's. He trapped foxes, muskrats and minks until the fur market disappeared. When the fur market was at its best, he could make over $100 for one red fox hide, which he considered fairly miraculous. He was an amazing woodworker; Jack helped build two of his own houses, created beautiful furniture of all types, and, in his later years, enjoyed making wooden toys for his grandchildren. Gardening was also a huge passion. He used his garden to feed his young family on a fireman’s income, and, in later years, give produce to friends and neighbors. Jack’s tomatoes, his pride and joy, were legendary in Gaffney. He would ride around in his truck, placing tomatoes in neighbors’ mailboxes. No trip to town was without bags of tomatoes to distribute to whomever he would encounter that day. He was literally a “Jack of all trades”, and his daughters all have fond memories of simply following him around, watching and “helping” their dad do whatever task needing doing that day.

A church community was always important to Jack. He occupied a place of leadership, teaching and singing in the choir in whatever church he was a member. While in Gaffney, he and Jolene taught a much-needed Sunday School class for developmentally challenged adults for years. Quite simply, church was always part of the Sunday experience, and one had to be quite ill to miss it.

Above all, Jack was a talker. He could (and did) tell story after story to anyone who would listen. And they were good stories, usually ending in a laugh. Even if one had heard it before, and that was often the case, it was fun to hear it again. He became the family historian—imparting stories of relatives long gone.

In short, Jack led a fairly simple life. He was happiest fishing with a buddy (a captive audience for his stories); working his garden, sitting in his tree stand, or enjoying coffee at the local diner at his weekly “bible study” sessions with the Gaffney menfolk. We all enjoyed our family gatherings, because it was so delightful to hear him tell his stories and enjoy the food that he made. Jack was a believer in helping others, and he left the world a better place.

He is survived by his wife, Jolene (Allen), and daughters Linda, Nancy, Susan and Karen and nine grandchildren. 

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Robert, and his first wife, Elaine (Hathcock)

Memorial Services will be held 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill, 15000 York Road, Charlotte, NC. Jack's family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.