Joseph James Sale, Jr.

Joseph James Sale, Jr., 95, of Fayetteville, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley.

Born February 23, 1930 at Fayetteville, he was the son of the late Joseph James Sale, Sr. and Lottie Mosley Sale.

J.J. Sale was a member of the New River Baptist Church and was the former postmaster in Fayetteville with 31 years in the U.S. Postal System. He also served as Scout Master for 11 years and was an avid volunteer for decades of Troop 179 Boy Scouts of America, Fayetteville, WV where he was the first Boy Scout of that Troop ever to receive the coveted Eagle Scout Award. He was often regarded as Scout of All Scouts by his scouts and peers. He was a member of the Post 149 American Legion. Joseph was an avid Fayetteville High School sports fan where his kids played, and cheered and a faithful follower of Woodrow Wilson sports, where all of his grand children played.

Joseph J. Sale, Jr. also was a decorated veteran of the United States Army. He began his service in the United States Army upon graduation from Fayetteville High School in 1948 and served in Tank Corp. While on Active duty he rose through the Non-Commissioned Officer ranks and became a Tank Platoon Sergeant. In 1951 he mobilized to the Korean Conflict where he was served in many operations but most notable Battle of the Iron Triangle, where after the loss of his Platoon Commander, he received a battlefield commission as a 2LT and took over as platoon leader. After being wounded in Battle he redeployed to Ft. Hood where he administratively reduced to Master Sergeant and discharged from the Active Army. Upon returning to West Virginia he enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard. He continued to serve in multiple positions of Company First Sergeant, Operations Sergeants Major, Battalion Command Sergeant Major, Engineer Group Command Sergeant Major and was appointed to the position as the first State Command Sergeant Major of the WV Army National Guard on July 12, 1971- January 1975 and again in January 9, 1986 and remain in this position until his retirement in 1990.

While a member of the U.S. Army, Command Sergeant Major Sale received many awards these included: Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean War Service Medal Six Bronze Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (third award), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon w/numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Presidential Unit Citation, (fifth award), West Virginia State Service Medal (thirty years’ service), the West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award w/Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and the West Virginia Meritorious Service Medal.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Dileonardo Sale; and three sisters, Josephine Allen, Ernestine Newman, and Kathleen Leonard.

Those left to cherish his memory include two daughters, Susan (Manuel) Rodriguez and Sally Sale; one son, Michael Sale (Kathy Vaught); three grandchildren, Joseph (Helen Ann) Rodriguez, Kayla (Akash) Rodriguez, and Luke (Natalie) Rodriguez; three great grandchildren, Sophia Grace Rodriguez, Isabelle Katherine Rodriguez and Sai Sharma

A Special thanks from the family is extended to his caregivers Tammy Morton and Patricia Walker

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill with Pastor Delmas Wolfe officiating. Burial will follow in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville with full Military Honors.

Friends may call one hour prior to services Sunday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tyreefuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Post 149 American Legion, Fayetteville, WV or Disabled American Veterans

The family of Joseph Sale is being cared for by Tyree Funeral Home.