Joseph Olea

Joe Olea passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at the age of 93. He was born in Los Angeles, California on May 15, 1925, the fourth of eleven surviving children to Oscar and Rosenda Olea. He served in the Navy during WWII aboard the USS Hornet from May 1943 to April 1946. After the Navy, he moved back to Douglas, Arizona and married his first wife Maria (Lali) and worked for two years in the Bisbee, AZ mines until the mines closed. Joe and Lali moved to Los Angeles, and they had four children together (Melinda, Joey, Patricia, and Michelle). Joe is preceded in death by his parents, some siblings, his first wife, his son, and numerous family members and friends. He worked for General Motors followed by Ralph’s Grocery Chain and retired from Ralph’s after 30 years of service. In 1985, Joe married his current wife Angie, who has two daughters from a previous marriage (Becky and Pat).

Joe enjoyed the simple pleasures of family, friends, singing, dancing, and traveling. As a husband, brother, father, step-father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend he will be missed by many. He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Angie Olea, daughters Melinda, Patricia, and Michelle Olea, granddaughters Tracy (Seth) Johnson, Jenny (Ryan) Batenchuk, grandson Mike Trazi, great-granddaughters Arabella, Gianna, and Makayla Johnson and Mackenzie Batenchuk. He is also survived by his stepdaughters Becky (Dan) Lynch and Pat (Mike) Shay, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family and friends. He had life well-lived and he was loved.
The family requests in lieu of flowers to please donate to the charity of your choice in Joe Olea’s honor. His Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, August 17th in Orange County, CA.