Joe Lawrence Manfrina, 94, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, in Lompoc.

Joe was born in Lompoc on May 17, 1915, on his parents' dairy on the El Jaro section of the San Julian Rancho to Lorenzo and Erminia Guidotti Manfrina. His ancestry was in Switzerland – his father was a native of Camedo, and his mother was from Monte Carasso. They met out on the Honda, having come to the U.S. in 1891 and 1905, she coming over with her uncle specifically to be Lorenzo's bride, and that day happened in January 1906.
Joe was their last child and spent his life in Lompoc with the exception of six years, three of which were in San Pedro on Terminal Island where he welded on Liberty Ships from 1940 to 1943. In that latter year he volunteered for the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion – Seabees – from October 1943 to November 1945, and was inducted as a Third Class Ship fitter, serving his tour of duty in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, repairing battle-damaged ships. Every chance he got was spent on the beach and on the water.

Joe loved the outdoors – fishing surfing, swimming, diving, hunting, golf, and riding motorcycles and bicycles – all outdoor sports. He took up skiing at age 60, avidly pursuing that at ski resorts for 25 years.
After graduation from Lompoc High School in 1933, the only year the seniors didn't have a yearbook due to the Depression, he worked at the Elite Café and Bakery until 1939, when he bought the Richfield service station on G Street and Ocean Avenue. That next year he went to welding school and Terminal Island, while living in Long Beach on Ocean Blvd., where he spent his off time carrying his 14-foot paddleboard across the boulevard to the ocean, surfing.

Returning from military service in 1945, he worked at Camp Cooke, Ruffner & Schuyler Chevrolet, and lastly at W. Atlee Burpee Floradale Farms, as a mechanic in all those jobs. Since then, he had pursued all his sports, and took care of himself up to the last few days of his 94 years.

He was a charter member and on the board of directors of the Lompoc Valley Historical Society and was a valuable source of information for the schoolchildren's tours, a former Model T Club member and racer, and in the last few years had thoroughly enjoyed participating in the activities of the Lompoc Antique Car Club and outlying clubs, exhibiting his antique auto.

Other affiliations were Woodmen of the World since 1933, American Legion, Lompoc Grange, and Lompoc High School Alumni Association.

Memorial donations in his name may be made to the Lompoc Valley Historical Society, P O Box 88, Lompoc, or to the Cancer Society of your choice.

He is survived by his brother Walt Manfrina, sister-in-law Myra Manfrina; nephews Barry and Bob Manfrina; LeRoy and Jerry Scolari, and Larry Manfrina; and nieces, Rosebel Scolari Cameron and Marlene Manfrina Grossi. There are numerous great nieces and nephews who also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his brother Domingo "Sox" Manfrina, and two sisters, Irma Manfrina Scolari and Rena Manfrina Ferguson.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2009, from 4 to 7 pm with a vigil at 6:30 pm in the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. Father Tom Cook will celebrate the mass of Christian burial at 10 am on Friday, July 17, 2009, at La Purisima Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.