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Joseph H. Sokol

FUNERAL HOME

J. Henry Stuhr Downtown Chapel

232 Calhoun Street

Charleston, South Carolina

Joseph Sokol Obituary

Name: Service for Joseph H. Sokol
Start: 2018-08-12T11:00:00.000Z
Location: Brith Sholom Beth Israel Cemetery "Maryville"

Joseph H. Sokol Charleston - Joseph H. Sokol was born in Charleston at Baker Hospital on March 22, 1932 - the son of Ida and Morris Sokol. After graduating from the Citadel in 1953 (Summerall Guards), attending Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, and serving a stint in the Army, Mr. Sokol went to work for his father Morris, at the eponymously named furniture store at 510 King Street, assuming the role of president after his father's retirement. In 2015 at the age of 82, Mr. Sokol retired and closed the store after 95 years in business. Mr. Sokol was a past president of Brith Shalom Beth Israel Synagogue and the Jewish Community Center. He was also a longtime member of the Hebrew Orphan Society and the Hebrew Benevolent Society, the oldest Jewish philanthropic organization in the United States. His community service and philanthropic pursuits are too numerous to recount. Mr. Sokol played a major role in the revitalization of Upper King Street, and was an active member of the King Street Merchants Association. Mayor Riley proclaimed March 22, 2012 as "Joe Sokol Day." Mayor Tecklenburg declared the corner of King St. and Reid St. the "Sokol Family Block" in honor of Mr. Sokol on April 16, 2018. Mr. Sokol is survived by Freida Sokol, his wife of 65 years whom he deeply loved; their four children, Ed Sokol, Eve Sokol, Freddie Sokol Schneider and Pauline Sokol Nakios (Thomas, who was like a son to Joe); his nine grandchildren, Ross Appel (Alexis), Ben Sokol, Michael Appel, Maxie Sokol Busey (Kyle), Lilla Ford (Jon), Rachel Appel, Sam Schneider, Theo Nakios, and Elliot Nakios; and one great-grandson, Cameron Ford. He is also survived by a sister, Sonia Greenberg and pre-deceased by a sister, Jean Sokol Rosner (Herbert). He fought a short, courageous battle with cancer, with strength, dignity and faith, surrounded by his wife Freida, children, grandchildren and great-grandson. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at the graveside in BSBI cemetery on Sycamore Avenue in West Ashley off of Highway 61. Donations in his honor can be made to: Addlestone Hebrew Academy, 1675 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd. Charleston, SC 29407, Brith Shalom Beth Israel Synagogue, 182 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC 29403, or Chabad of Charleston and the Low Country, 477 Mathis Ferry Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Aug. 11 to Aug. 12, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Sokol

19 Entries

September 10, 2018

My Friends, the Sokol family,

My heart goes out to you at this time of sorrow. I admired both of you so much for your kindness and dignity. Your commitment to family and community will long remember with great fondness for years to come.

Love and kindness,
JoAnna Bennett

Penny and Grant Patton

August 15, 2018

Dear Fredia,

Home is where the heart is. You and Joe assisted so many families surround themselves with beauty and comfort.
We will always remember you as an elegant couple who shared love and set an example for the generation coming along.

With sadness and beautiful memories,

Penny and Grant Patton

Susan Shealy Feldman

August 14, 2018

Dear Fredia and all of your beautiful family,
I am truly very saddened reading of Mr. Sokol's passing. He was one of my favorite friends, as you all are. I am so sorry, he will be sadly missed, but his beautiful smiling blue eyes and kind heart will live on forever. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love Always,
Susan

Sandy Rose

August 14, 2018

Dear Frieda, Ed and Family,
I am so saddened to hear of Joe's passing. What an ICON on King Street. I always loved the aquarium in the store and all the friendly faces. It was like visiting Mispacha. Joe was ALWAYS kind courteous , professional and wonderful.
What a mensch. I started calling on Joe when I was 21 years old and that was 44 years ago. King Street was so unusual for my territory with all the Jewish store owners. May Joe's good deeds be a guiding light for the grandchildren to pass on to their children. My sincere condolences to the entire family.

Joe Spann

August 13, 2018

Dear Sokol family, so sorry for your loss. This community will miss him and I know you are saddened by his death. He was a salesman's salesman and it was a joy trying to negotiate a deal him.

Butch Estes

August 13, 2018

Mr. Sokol will be deeply missed. All the respect in the world for the whole family. I will be there for the family if needed. Love and prayers.

JAMES MYERS

August 12, 2018

TO ALL OF THE SOKOL FAMILY I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT MR.JOE IS GONE HE WAS MY BOSS FOR 30 YEARS MR. WAS A GOOD PERSON. JAMES MYERS

Faye MacFarlane

August 12, 2018

Freida, I remember you fondly when we both went to Sweats Gym many moons ago -My daughter sent me the death notice from the Post & Courier - I wanted to send you my deepest sympathy from Canada - I'm sure you have had many years to collect memories to comfort you. Sending you Hugs

Renee Zinn Gordon

August 12, 2018

Dear Freida and Family,

So sorry to learn this. Joe was a nice, nice man - I used to see him at Zinn's and he was always kind.

I always adored your family ---

Love,
Renee

Shawn Forbes Davis

August 12, 2018

My Dear Freida,
My heart is with you and your family. Your loss is deep and so is Charleston's. Joe's kindness, humor and strength touched all who knew him. I'll always remember him with a smile.

Shawn Forbes Davis

Bill McKay

August 12, 2018

I enjoyed working with Joe in planning the Citadel Class of 1953 Reunions.
Ann Marie joins me in offering sympathy and prayers to all the Sokol Family.

August 12, 2018

Freida, Ed and Family,
Truly have lost one of the nicest and friendliest indviduals I ever had the pleasure to work with. Class act, gentleman and wonderful human being. May God provide the comfort and solace at such a difficult time. Tom and Amy Willis

Sted Dowd

August 12, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the Sokol family.. Mr and Mrs Sokol have impacted more people than they could ever imagine and that is yet another enduring legacy. God Bless.. Sted & Jane Dowd

Sherry Martschink

August 12, 2018

Freida and family,
So sorry to learn of your loss, which is also a great loss for Charleston. Thank you for sharing his time and efforts with the entire community.

Haskell Toporek

August 11, 2018

Freida and loved ones:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time. Joe was a Mensch and a true gentleman.

Love,

Haskell and Dale Toporek

Fred and Vicki Danziger

August 11, 2018

Our most sincere condolences on your loss
Our prayers and thoughts are with you

Katharine Hendrix

August 11, 2018

Know that my heart is with you all in these sad days. I hope that you take some comfort knowing that the light that shined in Joe will never be gone from the world. Sending prayers of peace and gratitude for Joe. - With Love, Kat

jeri gertzman

August 11, 2018

DEAR FREIDA AND FAMILY
I AM SO VERY SORRY TO LEARN OF JOE'S DEATH--AND I SHARE YOUR SORROW ,ESPECIALLY SINCE JOE WAS ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE I KNEW ,WHILE LIVING IN CHARLESTON. , ONE THING THAT GIVES ME SOLACE IS TO KNOW JOE'S LIFE TIME DREAM AND DESIRE CAME TRUE THE DAY HE MARRIED FREIDA LEVINE.
I KNOW HIS BELOVED MEMORY WILL BE A BLESSING TO ALL OF YOU AND I HOPE THESE MEMORIES WILL , ALONG WITH G-D'S MERCY AND LOVE. HELP SUSTAIN YOU ALL. SENDING SINCE SYMPATHY AND LOVING THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR HEALING YOUR HEARTS.

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