On July 6, 2012, just 49 days short of his 102 birthday, Joe Bart Nunez was finally able to rest. He was born on August 24, 1910, in El Monte, CA, the eldest son and only remaining of 10 children born to Ramon & Ysabel Martinez Nunez. Passing before him were his siblings Pauline Ruiz, Lillian Aguirre, Jess, Sylvester, Ralph, Eleanor Dominguez, Carmen, Ramona and Carmen. In 1993, he was preceded in death by Nettie, his beloved wife of 56 years.
He was a man of faith, a member of the St. Francis of Assisi parish in Fillmore. He belonged to the Holy Name Society, was an usher and volunteered for various activities, and later attended services at the San Salvador Mission in Piru.
Joe saw & experienced many changes in the century of his life. He was known for his extraordinary recollections of all things. He told many stories, like being sent out as a teenager to look for victims of the San Francisquito Dam tragedy, and of growing up during the boom-town days of Piru.
Joe worked for over 50 years as the only employee of Goodenough Ranch. He was the embodiment of the term "hard-working", spending his entire week working on the job and then tending to his yard during his time off. Upon his retirement, he and Nettie moved to their home in Piru, where he had l6 fruit trees, including a sweet lime tree that had been grafted to an orange tree by his father, which produced both types of fruit.
He was truly an outdoors-man, be it hunting or camping and fishing with his family in the eastern Sierras as a younger man, or simply tending his extensive array of fruit trees in his yard. He took particular joy in harvesting macadamia nuts from his tree. He always enjoyed giving away whatever his trees happened to be producing. One of his greatest joys was curing olives from his trees & giving jars away to anyone lucky enough to be around before they ran out. He loved his flowers, caring for his rose bushes, poinsettias, and geraniums. He especially loved all his dogs, always having one for a pet and growing so close to them that their loss was always hard. He leaves behind his beloved companion Harley.
Joe was an athlete, playing baseball in his youth for the team from Piru. He remembered playing teams from Carpinteria as well as others from the county. He played second base. He followed all sports, but it was no surprise that he was an avid baseball fan, rooting for the Angels, a particular source of contention when it came to the Dodger fans in the family.
Although he had to quit school to help support his family, and probably because of that, he valued education. It was with his help that his grandchildren were both able to graduate from college.
The family would like to thank all the staff from the Fillmore Convalescent Center and Assisted Home Hospice, who provided excellent care for Joe during his last 3 years.
Joe is survived by his only child, daughter Joanne and her husband Wayne Fore, and much-loved grandchildren Brianna Fore and Chad Fore. He also leaves his friend and brother-in-law Eddie Villa, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Thursday July 12, 2012 from 5-8pm with a rosary recited at 7:00pm, at San Salvador Mission in Piru. Funeral mass will be held Friday, July 13, 2012 at 9:00am, Also at San Salvador Mission. Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary Fillmore. Condolence messages may be left at Skillincarrollfil.com