Joe Bond Hays, age 92, of Worthington, passed away peacefully at 2:47 pm on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at IU Health Hospice House in Bloomington. He was born in Worthington, IN on August 29, 1929, the son of Marcus & Mary Louise (Bond) Hays.

Joe was a 1947 graduate of Jefferson High School. He then went to officers training school in the Army and served in the Korean War. After the war he went to Purdue and received a Bachelor”s of Science Degree in Agriculture. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he worked on soil and water quality control and soil conservation and retired in 1989. He assisted in the Indiana Heartland Coordinating commission and served on the Urban Committee of Hoosier Heartland RC&D Council. He enjoyed teaching Sunday school at Folsom United Methodist Church, was a member of the Elks Club in Linton and was on the Worthington Cemetery board.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Louise Hays of Worthington; children, Joe P. (Angie) Hays of Indianapolis, Charles R. Hays of Florida, Barbara (Matthew) Abshire Osadola of Indianapolis, Donna L. Murray of Michigan and Robert M. Hays of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Ken (Lauren) Hays, Mary Hays, Catherine Hays, Marcus Hays, Jonathon Abshire, Tricia Murray, Jared Murray, Deanna Murray and Mikayla Murray; great grandchildren, Les Perrin, Ava Perrin, Reagan Perrin, Erin Hays, Jack Hays, Elena Murray and Brady James Gonzales; great great grandchildren, Hudson Hays and Branson Hays; twin sister, Mary Ann Tate; niece, Sara (Jim) McCormick; nephew, Mark (Mary) Tate; 3 great nieces; 3 great nephews and 2 great great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A private celebration of life will be at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Folsom United Methodist Church or Linton Elks Lodge #866 through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared with Joe’s family at www.welchcornett.com.