Joe C Avila Jr.

Joe C Avila, Jr. was born in Lemoore, CA, on August 8, 1924. He lived on a ranch during the early depression years until his family moved to San Diego, CA, when he was ten years old. He was a native Californian and was proud to have lived his whole life in the “Golden State.”

He graduated from Point Loma High School and joined the Armed Forces right out of high school. He was assigned to the new Army Air Corps. He met Clara Elizabeth Woods, the love of his life, while he was stationed at McLaren Air Force Base in Las Vegas. After a whirlwind romance they married in 1945 and were married for 66 years until Clara passed away in 2011. He is survived by their two children: Toni (Tom) and D’Wayne, and his two grandchildren: Michele and Brian (Alena). He also has two great-grandchildren: Logan and Isabella. He has a sister, Rosalie and niece Renee (Noah) and nephew Scott in San Diego.

He worked his whole career at North Island in Coronado and was retired for almost 51 years. He and Clara loved to camp, fish and travel throughout the western United States. He enjoyed music and had a great ear to help karaoke singers perfect their craft. He always said he never had time to be bored during retirement.

In 2019 he moved to Brookdale Independent Senior Living and was able to live independently for the rest of his life. He wanted to do it himself. At Brookdale he was named Resident of the Year in 2023 due to all the programs he started for other residents.

He had a mantra for life: “You know what to do; DO IT!”