On January 8, 2016, beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Joseph Gonzales left this earth and entered the gates of heaven. Born October 14, 1930, in Boulder, Colorado, he was one of eight siblings.

Joe joined the United Sates Air Force in 1951 as a medical technician, a job which he did for 21 years and which included a year in Viet Nam. He retired from the Air Force on July 1, 1972. In 1981, Joe became a physician's assistant for the Lompoc Bureau of Prisons and worked there for 18 years.

During his retirement, Joe did volunteer work for the Lompoc Police Department as a Spanish translator. Joe loved riding his bike daily and often would ride to Buellton and back. Joe loved taking care of his home and vehicles, always keeping them both clean and top notched.

Joe was preceded in death by his brothers Tom, Felix, and Danny and sisters Isabell, Rita, and Petra. He leaves behind his brother Jess, sons Chuck, Curtis, and Bobby, daughters Lisa and Anna, six grandchildren, and his lovely wife of 49 years Kathy.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 11 am at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lompoc where Joe was an avid member since 1973. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, Directors, starbucklind.com