Joe lived down the hall from me in at that time the new dorm at GA Tech
This was about 1961. He was very popular with the ladies as he was tall blond and good looking and a star on Bobby Dodds football  team. I will never forget seeing him removing call me notes from his car windshield left by admiring ladies. 
RIP Joe from an old yellow jacket.

Al Mullins 
Savannah  Georgia 


I use to babysit Joe's kids in Atlanta Georgia he was my friend and never got to leave you without a smile. His game room had all the helmets he played for said try one on see if it fits you I don't think anyone would do that.

I first met Joe at Camp Chimney Rock in North Carolina in the summer of 1958 when we were both in high school.    I  have been close to Joe for many years and especially during his declining years.   If more people were aware of the grave consequences of the CTE illness  ( too many brain concussions) Joe was suffering from football would be banned as a contact sport.  Joe never complained about being the victim of this condition and was in good spirits until the end even though he was suffering greatly for the last several years.   I have never seen anyone  persevere  as well Joe,  his family  and care-givers  did during these  last few years and they all need to be commended  for their loving and supportive  efforts.        Joe was a true friend of mine and I greatly miss that he is gone  -  Russ Pierson

Papa Joe was my father-in-law, as I was married to Russell for a time and am Donna Victoria's mother.  Although I had not seen Papa Joe for some time, it never diminished my feelings of love and gratitude.  I never had the impression that Papa Joe was especially good at expressing his feelings, but I never doubted his love for our little family and the rest of his children and grandchildren.  While Papa Joe was not especially demonstrative, he always let us know that he cared by being an extremely generous man.  There are many people of means in the world, but they don't all pack up family in an RV and take them across family to visit with loved ones.  In 2002, Russell and I must have been the only people downtown Orlando in a lovely house built in the 1950's that somehow never got central heating.  The night my water broke, I was freezing!  By the time I got back home with our baby, we had central heating.  Thank you, Papa Joe.  Later on, Papa Joe gifted us a beautiful jungle gym for the girls and even fenced in our yard so the girls could play safely.  Thank you, Papa Joe, for these things and so many, many others.  Your kindness, sense of humor, and extraordinary generosity will never be forgotten, for they are far greater than any football, racing, or business feat.

I knew Joe in high school. He was a popular guy, superb athlete, good student, and somewhat of a local celebrity but he was always friendly and kind to everyone. He had many accomplishments in his life but my memory of him will be as a decent, unpretentious human being--something to which everyone should aspire.

Joe and I spent many good times  racing  at New Smyrna speedway. He came up to me and asked me to maintain and drive his  car. I accepted  and that was the start of a very nice long friendship. We won a lot of races that year and won the track championships. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Joe. RIP  big guy.

OBITUARY

Joseph Auer III

October 11, 1941 – March 9, 2019

Baldwin-Fairchild Ivanhoe Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services