John J. Padilla

John J. Padilla was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

His parents were Joe and Mary Padilla. John was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and San Pedro, California. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up in the Padilla household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, John was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. John was raised with Two. He had older brother Joe and younger sister Viola. John was constantly involved in activities with his brothers and sisters. John and his siblings may have had the typical rivalries while growing up but John was always consistently loyal to his family.

As a young child, John was never someone who needed to be the center of attention. He wasn’t pushy and never forced his way into games or other activities. John developed a variety of interests, though, and the things he enjoyed doing he did well. He was always curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. John took part in Gymnastics and track. In his spare time he liked music had a great collection of Jazz records. However, what John enjoyed most was simply playing and spending time with his many friends.

While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of John as being a serious person, he managed to have a pretty good time in high school as he made that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He graduated from San Pedro High School in 1948. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was music and woodshop. He lettered in Gymnastics. John was a very logical person who enjoyed learning about factual information. Using his exceptional memory, he was able to learn much through observation. John always seemed to have a command of the facts and was able to make it seem as though he could easily master any problem that might be presented to him.

Always considered to be a solid friend, John was fortunate to have numerous acquaintances and several very close friends during his life. Since he disliked making generalizations about people and preferred to draw his own conclusions based on direct observation, John was able to see beneath the surface of relationships and became a true friend to those who knew him. He was committed to his friends and valued the trust he placed in them. It was not uncommon for John to go beyond the call of duty for others, and friends frequently sought him out for advice because he had a knack for coming up with practical solutions to any type of dilemma. While growing up, some of his best friends were Duane Johnson, Julio Maes, John Medina, Frank Nunez, Robert Osuniga. Later in life, he became friends with Manny Large, Les Morse, Don Ault, Jake Keller, Chuck Morino.

John greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently. John enjoyed dealing with concrete ideas and could penetrate any amount of fuzzy information to reach the essential facts. Always able to attend to the task at hand, John was excellent at meeting deadlines. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to detail, allowing sufficient time to complete one task before moving on to the next. His primary occupation was Installer of Communication equipment. He was employed for 32 years by Western Electric. John worked hard to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

John was an Marine Veteran. He was in the Marines from Nov 1948 to 1951. John saw action for from July 31, 1950 to Nov 14, 1951 during the Korean Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of CPL. He received praise for his valor, including being awarded Korean service medal. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, John seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country.

John liked to experience things first-hand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into his hobbies, where he was very methodical in how he organized his activities and categorized things. Since he enjoyed his private time, John always tried to allocate a specific time for working on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were Playing the piano and trumpet and his art work. John was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

John found pleasure in sports. Being a person who was comfortable making win/lose decisions throughout life, he could appreciate that athletes made those types of decisions in sports. He applauded those who won, and he enjoyed the statistical data and sports facts and could find himself wrapped up in those details. In high school, John played Gymnastics and track. He would watch his favorite sporting events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Football, Baseball, Golf, Basketball.

Many organizations were grateful to have John as a member, since he always brought with him a “stick to it” attitude and a high degree of common sense. Using straightforward methods to successfully complete the job, John was a great planner who was incredibly well organized. It seemed that he was able to schedule any event or activity with ease. He always seemed to know exactly what needed to be done. In high school, John was a member of the Gymnastics team. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the Elks Lodge San Predo Pioneers.

As a man who always showed great commitment to the things he believed in, it’s little wonder that John was so active in his community. Being practical and mentally disciplined, John preferred to base his decisions on first-hand experiences. John was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and dig right in. Politically, John was a Republican.

John was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member of Guardian Angel Cathedral and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. During that time, he was an Usher. He was a sympathetic man who valued his beliefs and was willing to work tirelessly for them.

John enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. Since he was an early starter and had a knack for planning everything, traveling with John appeared effortless. He enjoyed researching all of his examined options and applying cost-effective planning techniques. Plus, no matter where he traveled, John always had a back up plan at the ready, just in case. Favorite vacations included a trip to Hawaii and cruises.

John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of John’s favorites was Sabrina a Siberian Husky. They were best friends for 9 years.

He always trusted and placed value in what was logical and in the things he knew, so he was very confident in planning his retirement. He had begun the process early and had his retirement all laid out well in advance. Las Vegas, Nevada. In retirement, he found new pleasure in staying active in church and taking art classes. Even in retirement, John continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in his new community and felt fulfilled.

John J. Padilla passed away on May 23, 2010 at Cottages of Green Valley Assisted Living, as a result of Parkinson's and Dementia he also was a Diabetic. He is survived by his brother Joe,and sister in-law Theresa, Sister Viola, his Nieces Raeann and Judiann. Services were held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. John was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery.

Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of John J. Padilla. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Green Valley Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.