Joe Louis ValdezCamarillo, CAJoe L. Valdez, Jr., long time resident of Camarillo, California, passed away on February 13, 2017 following complications from heart disease. He was born on April 7, 1935 in Laredo, Texas to the late Carolina Ancira Valdez and Jose Luis Valdez, Sr. and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He lived most of his life in Ventura County. Joe joined the U.S. Navy in 1955, served honorably for 8 years and achieved the rank of Machinist's Mate First Class. While enlisted he was stationed in San Diego and San Francisco was able to travel the world on many ocean deployments including Okinawa, Japan. From 1963 to 1990 Joe was employed at Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station starting out in Public Works, air conditioning/refrigeration, then moved on to become an Engineering Technician responsible for environmental testing of Navy missiles. He served the U.S. Department of Defense as an senior engineering technician specializing in missile development and testing and served as a U.S. Navy on-site representative establishing U.S. missile installations in various foreign countries. His mechanical abilities were legendary. It seemed like there was nothing he couldn't fix. In the mid 1970's he took up running and successfully competed in scores of 10k races, marathons and ultramarathons, most notably the Western States 100, the Double Dipsea and the Boston Marathon. A gifted athlete, Joe was a scratch golfer and competed frequently in tournaments around Ventura County. Upon retirement, he spent many years working in the golf course pro shops at Westlake Country Club and Pt Mugu. He was an avid dog owner. His beloved dogs, Peanut and George (Big Guy) were his pride and joy. He loved to spend time with his neighbors at Ponderosa Creek, and his golfing buddies, and his coworkers from Pt Mugu. Joe is survived by his brothers David, Robert and Anthony Valdez, sister Graciela Garza, children Amilyn Gardner Jones (Dana) of Utah, Sally Grigoriev (George) of San Diego, CA, Claudia Knox of Petaluma, CA, Maria Valdez of Simi Valley and Robert Plaza of Ventura, his grandchildren Robert Gardner, Jeffery Gardner, Jessica Makin, Deborah Talbot, and Ryan Gardner of Utah, Vanessa (Joe) Peters of Gulfport, MS, Nick Grigoriev and Alex Grigoriev of San Diego, Louis Knox of Salem, OR, Monica Knox, Bobby Plaza Jr., Luana Plaza, Tina Valdez and Adam Valdez and numerous great grandchildren. Joe lived life to the very fullest and we all believed that in his strength, he was invincible. May he rest in peace and know that he was much loved.Family and friends may gather and pay respects to Joe on Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 11am to 12:30pm at Griffin Brothers Chapel 1075 E. Daily Drive in Camarillo with a reception to follow nearby.