Joe Garcia was born in Oxnard, CA on March 3, 1922 and passed in his home on March 27, 2016 in Ventura, CA. He was 94.
He graduated from Santa Paula High School and then joined the Marines in 1942. He was proud to have served his country as a World War II Marine stationed in Guam. He earned a medal for sharpshooting and conduct, and was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1946.
He loved giving to the Saticoy community he grew up in. He became a volunteer fireman for the local fire department, was instrumental in getting the alleys paved throughout Saticoy, and provided his service as a heavy equipment operator wherever needed.
His most proud accomplishment was helping bring baseball to the youths of Saticoy. He took the initiative to write to the Little League international headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to gather the information needed to bring little league to the community. He then contacted the Saticoy School District and managed to have the first little league field built. He spent countless hours raising money through donations, and building and preparing the field. He was so happy to have formed Saticoy's first baseball team named the Cubs. He continued his love of sports through the years, joining the tri-valley girls softball league, assistant coaching for the St. Bonaventure Catholic School girls softball team, and coaching the men's slow pitch team (Wargo) in Oxnard, CA.
He retired from Ventura County Parks Department in 1984 as a heavy equipment operator after 30 years of service. His new passion was doing wood work in his tool shed, cooking, and having barbecues for his family. He took pride in his vegetable garden, but most of all he enjoyed sitting next to his wife each night while watching TV.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Mickey Garcia; son Joe M. Garcia of Sonora ; two daughters Christina L. Garcia of Ventura and Yvonne (Rudy) Alcantar of Oxnard ; grandchildren Raymond (Catalina) Soliz, Monica Torres, Eddie (Araceli) Rodriguez, Diana Garcia, Denise (Carlos) Padilla, Danielle (Jeremy) Watkins; 14 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Manuel Garcia and granddaughter Toni Soliz Bayer.
The family would like to thank the team at Assisted Hospice of Ventura for all their help.
Family and friends are invited to a viewing Saturday April 9, 2016 from 9am to 9:45am in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura. A service will be held in the Funeral Home at 9:45am. Interment with Military Honors will immediately follow in Santa Paula Cemetery, 330 Cemetery Road, Santa Paula. Afterward, there will be a gathering of friends and family at Sacred Heart Church, Biedermann Hall, 10800 Henderson Road, Ventura.