Joe was born on March 28, 1915 in Ila, Georgia. He had 5 sisters and 2 brothers. When Joe was 9 years, old his father died. Joe’s mother moved the family to Hanceville, Alabama. When he was 20, he came to California. Two of his siblings had already settled here. Joe found a good job with The Coast Wholesale Grocery Co., but he didn’t feel like he wanted to make a career of it, he always had his eye on the Fire Department. In fact, he even became a volunteer Fireman. In 1942, his chance came and he became a member of the Ventura City Fire Department. He worked up through the ranks and became the city’s Fire Marshall for several years. When he retired in 1973, after 31 years in the department he was not liking to be idle and to help out where he could, he did volunteer work for Food Share for 17 years. He was a Downtown Lions Club member for 43 years and an active member of the First Christian Church for 80 years.
Joe was preceded in death by all of his siblings and a 3 year old son, Dennis.
He is survived by his wife of 76 years, June. He is also survived by a son, Gary, of Ventura; a daughter, Coralyn Petrie, of Pleasanton, CA; 2 grandsons, Michael (Lynn) Petrie, of Brentwood, CA and David (Vicki) Petrie, of Livermore, CA; 5 great-grandchildren, Shelby Petrie, Sierra Petrie, Grant Petrie, Matthew Petrie and Christian Petrie. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Joe to Food Share, 4156 Southbank Road, Oxnard, CA 93036-1002 or to Livingston Memorial.
Graveside service for Joe will be held on Saturday, August 13 at 2pm, Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Charles Carroll Funeral Home.
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