Joe N. Carabajal

Joe Nino Carabajal was born in San Angelo, Texas on December 22, 1950, to Eristeo Cervantes Carabajal and Juanita Nino Carabajal. His parents had 2 children, Linda and Joe being the youngest. In 1951, his parents made the long journey as migrant workers to Bakersfield, California and then on to Gilroy. After striving to provide for their family, and in search of a better life, Eristeo and Juanita moved their young family in 1953 to San Jose.

Joe Carabajal loved music at a very young age and learned to play several instruments; piano, trumpet, and the guitar. Joe played the trumpet in the James Lick High School Marching Band his freshman year, which led him to become the Drum Major for the next 3 years. He graduated from James Lick High School in 1969. After high school Joe was accepted into San Jose State University where he started his undergraduate work and also went on to play in the SJSU Marching Band. It was during his time in college that he began to search for the truth about God. He visited various denominations and nothing seemed to fit. One day he stumbled upon a small church and he felt something different in the worship and during a revival service, Joe witnessed a miracle before his eyes which made him believe that God truly was real. In the summer of 1971, Joe accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, by Rev. Benjamin Rodriguez, and later received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Excited about living for God, Joe began to write music. He played the piano at church and even became the youth president.

After 2 years at SJSU, Joe transferred to Cal State University, Fresno. He joined the Echo Central Choir, and played piano under the direction of Freddy and Daniel Madriaga. He started congregating at the Fresno Apostolic Church, with Rev. David Pantages as his Pastor. Joe graduated in 1974 from CSU Fresno with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Industrial Arts Design (Mechanical Engineering). Looking to start his career as a mechanical engineer Joe moved from Fresno to Southern California. He took a job working for the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp. in Santa Ana, and began his search for a local church. It was when he stepped into the Santa Ana Apostolic Church where Rev. Francisco Meza was Pastor, that he met the girl who would become his future wife, Eva Aguilar. It was after a youth service that their love story began. All of the young people got together after church at a Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant and both Joe and Eva each bought a valentine’s cookie unknowingly for each other, and the rest was history. That next Sunday they became an item and in the fall of 1975 they were married on October 18th. Joe and Eva Carabajal had their first child Lisa Marlene, in July of 1976. After 2 years married, a job opportunity with General Electric arose in San Jose, and he moved his then family of 3 to a small house across the street from his parents in the Alum Rock area.

In the summer of 1978, Joe and his family became members of the First Apostolic Church of San Jose and served under many great Pastors: Pastor Daniel Jauhall, Pastor Salvador Arias, Pastor Manuel Vizcarra, Pastor Andy Provencio and Bishop Art Espinoza. He loved to be involved in the church ministry by serving for the past 38 years as a Sunday School Teacher, Children’s Department Director, Piano player, as the Varones Department Secretary and Treasurer, and for 15 years he assisted his parents with the church bible bookstore. Joe and Eva also loved to help the community as teachers helping hundreds of people to gain American citizenship.

In February of 1980, Joe and Eva were blessed with a son, Adam Jared. Joe’s father had worked and retired after 33 years from FMC Corp. and in 1988 Joe found himself working at the same company under contract in the Bradley Tank Division. He remained working in the same company which changed its name, and planned to retire from BAE Systems after 28 years with the company. He loved his job and the people he worked alongside. Joe loved education and had a strong desire to return to San Jose State University and in May 2005 he received a Masters of Arts Degree in Counseling Education, Summa Cum Laude. His published Master’s Thesis is entitled “The Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Career Aspirations among Low-Income Adolescents.” He shared this momentous occasion with his son Adam who also graduated from SJSU on the same day. He instilled in those around him the importance of a good education, hard work, serving others and living for God! He loved the great outdoors and would plan annual vacations, camping and fishing trips and loved spending time with his family and made them his priority.

Before Thanksgiving 2012, Joe was diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer and God miraculously granted him 5 years with us. Joe N. Carabajal went to be with the Lord on the eve of Thanksgiving, (his favorite holiday) Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 5:20 p.m. He was surrounding by his family and close friends, singing songs of worship. Joe was 65 years old, and left this world a month before he was to retire. He is survived by his loving wife Eva, his children Lisa, Adam, Crystal and Louis, and his grandchildren Asael and Judah. He touched many lives with his kind heart, humor and wisdom, and leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion and a family that strives to live by his example! He will be missed by many.