Joseph Steven Tovar Sr.

Joseph (Joe) Steven Tovar, was a resident of Oakley, California his entire life. Joe passed away peacefully with his daughters and caretaker at his side the morning of October 23, 2024. He was 97 years old.
Joe was born in Oakley to Rumalda and Joseph Tovar. He and his family were migrant farmworkers that worked in the San Joaquin Valley picking cotton and fruit, returning to Oakley after each season. He attended Oakley schools and graduated from Liberty High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy at the Stockton Induction Center in December of 1945. Since he was 17, he could not enlist without his mother's permission. However, his mother had other plans and wanted him home for Christmas and his 18th birthday. She discussed this with the enlisting officer until she won the argument. Her eldest son Frank was in the Army at this time.
Joe was selected to join a special unit supported by President Franklin D. Roosevelt where the crew of the plane selected the pilot. He was a gunner and trained in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida. Although the war came to an end a year and a half after his enlistment, he enjoyed his service and experiencing life outside of California.
Joe came home and began working to support his family. He worked at Hickmott Cannery in Antioch. He was told by co- workers that he needed to explore other opportunities for his future. He interviewed at Dow Chemical Co. in Pittsburg and was hired. He retired after a very successful 32-year career. He started as a laborer, then an operator in the Chlorine plant, then the Per-tet plant eventually becoming the foreman. In 1972, he became part of the Human Resources Department as a Supervisor of Salary Operations. He was the first non-college graduate to work in the front office.
In 1950 he married the love of his life, Ruth DeVera. Ruth and Joe were neighbors and they were first attracted to each other when they lived across the street from one another as teenagers. They were married on June 25, 1950, and Joe & Ruth had three children; Joe Tovar Jr, Nance Tovar and Connie Lewis.
Joe was involved in the Brentwood Recreation Department as a coach and coordinator. In June, as the school year ended, Joe would sit on the tailgate of his station wagon asking kids if they wanted to play baseball in the summer. If they responded, yes, he would sign them up. Their names were taken to the coaches, the boys would be placed on teams, and summer league would begin. Joe's team was the Athletics and wore green shirts and hats. They always placed either first or second in the league.
Joe supported other sports as well by taking local kids to Pass, Punt and Kick competitions in Antioch and Brentwood. They also went to track meets to compete in Antioch and once to the Jr Olympic tryouts in Stockton. Sometimes he took a team to play in a tournament hosted by the Antioch Little League.
Joe and Ruth were very involved in St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oakley, as well as various community organizations. Around 1953, the Oakley Volunteer Fire Department received a medical call. The story has it that his older brother, Frank knew that his younger brother, Joe had First Aid training at Dow Chemical. The firemen decided to pick him up on the way to the emergency. This event started a lifelong commitment to the Oakley/Knightsen Volunteer Fire Department. Joe rose from firefighter to Assistant Chief in the Oakley/Knightsen Volunteer Department. He was promoted to Fire Chief in 1974. He remained the Chief of the Oakley/Knightsen Volunteer Department until his retirement in 2000.
His beloved wife, Ruth passed away in 1986. At this time, he decided to fully commit himself to the service of others. He soon received permission from the Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland to study to become an Ordained Deacon. This permission was needed due to his age. After seven years of studying, Joe was ordained and began to serve God and his beloved community. His first service performed as Deacon was the funeral for his older sister Rose.
In 1988, Joe along with Emily Cutino were chosen the First Citizens of the Year by the Oakley Chamber of Commerce. He was also chosen as a Liberty Graduate of Distinction in 2001. He and former General Manager of the Tennessee Titans, Floyd Reece, were inducted together.
Joe supported his children in all they did. He often came off graveyard shift, picked up the fishing poles and he and the kids headed out to the Delta for a few hours of fishing. He enjoyed family vacations. His family camped at Pinecrest Lake with his mother, brothers and their families. He liked taking a road he had never seen before. Sometimes we weren't sure if we would make it home. While driving he liked to sing, "Working on the Railroad," off-key.
Joe was also active with Oakley's Quarterback Club, Oakley Lions, he sat on the Board of Directors for Tri Delta Transportation, Meals on Wheels, and the Community Advisory Board for the DuPont Chemical Company. As a Deacon of the Diocese of Oakland, he led meetings for people who had recently lost their spouses in Grief Counseling at St Anthony Church and Sutter Delta Hospital. As a Deacon of the Diocese of Oakland he married, baptized and presided over numerous religious celebrations.
The last Deacon services he provided was visiting the sick in the community, offering communion to those who could not attend mass, and managing the candles in the church.
Joe is survived by his children, Joe Tovar Jr. (Gretchen), Nance Tovar, Connie Lewis (Jeff †). His four grandchildren, Jeremy Tovar, Steven Tovar, Tory Marchetti (Jason), Megan Bailey (Jordan). His three great grandchildren, Harper and Samatha Bailey, and Collin Marchetti. And Brothers, Raymond Caballero and Steve Nevarez.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rumalda Tovar, his brothers and sisters, Rose Cervantes, Frank Tovar, Manuel Tovar, Virginia Ruiz, and Robert Nevarez.
The Visitation, Rosary/Vigil will be held on Monday November 11, 2024. The Visitation is from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Rosary/Vigil is at 7:00 pm at St. Anthony Church in Oakley. Funeral Mass will be held Nov. 12, 2024 at St Anthony Church beginning at 11:00 am with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery following the service. A reception will follow at St. Anthony's Hall.
Contributions in his name in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Anne Village Inc. in Byron, CA, www.Stannevillage.com or SAV, PO Box 374 Byron, CA 94514, Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr, Clarksburg, MD 20871, Alzheimer's Association Northern California and Northern Nevada, https:/www.alz.org>norcal or a charity of your choice.