Joseph G. Lavallee

Joseph George Maurice Harvey Lavallee

August 22, 1923 – January 31, 2019

Joseph G. Lavallee, age 95, of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away on January 31, 2019 in his home. He was born to Josephat and Rebecca (Deziel) Lavallee, in Manchester, New Hampshire and was the fifth born out of ten children. He is survived by two sisters, Clair Bergeron and Estelle Tellier.

At 18 years he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. and was part of the 1st Marine Corps Division. His division was engaged in Operation Cartwheel in the Solomon Islands during WWII. He was wounded 1944 and received a purple heart while on the Island of Cape Gloucester, New Britain in the South Pacific.

He attended New Hampshire School of Accounting in Manchester, NH and Pierce Community College in Canoga Park, California. He worked as a Propulsion Program Coordinator at Rockwell International where he retired.

He married Violet Rose (Bourque) Lavallee in 1945 and raised three children. After being widowed by his first wife, he then married Doris B. (Lajoie) Lavallee in 1971 and had one child.

He moved to the Grants Pass, Oregon area with his family in 1981. He attended St. Anne’s Catholic Church where he was very involved. He held the positions of Grand Knight (twice) and District Deputy with the Knights of Columbus. He was involved with Benevolent Order of the Elks where he held the position of Exalted Ruler. He also was elected as chair to the board of directors of the Merlin Community Park where he was instrumental in building the baseball field and community center. He loved to golf and bowled at least three times a week.

Survivors include two sons, Lionel Lavallee and Paul Lavallee; two daughters, Chris (Lavallee) Alterman and Cheryl Ann (Lavallee) Lentz; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and two great, great grandchildren. .

He was preceded in death by his two wives, his mother and father, four brothers and three sisters.

He will be laid to rest at the Eagle Point Veterans Cemetery.