Joe Liles, 81 of Bowling Green, KY passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at Hospice House of Southern Kentucky. Joe was born in Henderson, KY on March 26, 1943. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Liles and Jean Liles Watson and his daughter, Linda Marie Liles.
He was a devoted husband and father. Joe greatly enjoyed spending time watching WKU basketball and boating on Barren River Lake with his close friends and family. In his later years, people knew him by his nickname, “Papa Joe”.
Joe was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and served as the General Manager of the Butler, Simpson and Warren County Water Districts for 34 years. He was a member of the Warren County Jaycees, Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Bowling Green Rotary Club, past President of the National Rural Water Association and the Kentucky Rural Water Association and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Joe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally O’Nan Liles, three daughters; JoAnna Liles Jones, Janet Eblen (Bobby) and Katherine Wolfe (Eric), his sister, Suzanne Taylor (James), a brother, James Liles (Cherry), seven grandchildren: Austin, Ethan (Braylen) and Erin Jones, Jay (Zoe) and Cody Eblen, Tucker and Mason Wolfe, five great grandchildren; Grayson and Collins Eblen, Brantley and Bennett Williams, and Beckhem Jones, several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday October 9, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel with a Rosary Service to be at 6:30 PM. Thursday, October 10th visitation will be at Holy Spirit Catholic Church from 9:00 until 10:00 AM, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Burial will be Bowling Green Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Kentucky.
