Joe M. Espinoza

Resident of Watsonville

April 28, 1922 –April 25, 2012

Joe M. Espinoza passed away peacefully at his home in Watsonville on April 25, 2012. He was 89.Mr. Espinoza was born in Saffordville, Kansas to Pedro and Amada Espinoza. In December 1940 he married Carmina Pantoja and they raised three daughters together. During WWII he served in the US Navy. In 1956 he moved his family to Watsonville and worked as a truck driver for Monterey Bay Packing Co. for 31 years.

Mr. Espinoza loved to fish and barbecue, go to the casinos, and liked to watch the Giants and the Raiders. He also loved to sing and dance Country Western, Swing, Salsa, Mexican and was a champion Jitterbug dancer. Above all he loved to spoil his grandchildren who knew him as “Gimpa” and his great-grandchildren who knew him as “Papa”.

Mr. Espinoza is survived by his wife of 72 years, Carmina Espinoza; his daughters, Mary Lou Navarro, Josie (Dean) Diaz, and Maria Elena (Victor) Vasquez; his brother, Ernesto Espinoza; his grandchildren Joseph Navarro, Jesse Navarro, Michael Navarro, Magda Gomez, Robert Diaz, Rene Diaz, Victor Vasquez Jr., and Emanuel Vasquez; and 8 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel on Monday, April 30th from 4-9 PM with a recitation of the rosary at 7 PM. Mass will be held at Valley Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 1st at 1 PM with burial to follow at Valley Public Cemetery.



For the complete article see the 04-28-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 04-28-2012 paper.

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