Joseph Gilpin Chrisman

1915 - 2007

Joseph Gilpin Chrisman died peacefully at his home on Oct. 17, 2007.

Joseph was born May 13, 1915, on the family farm near the Olivas Adobe to Clarence Lyle Chrisman and Madge Bartholomew Chrisman. Joe's grandfather, Gilpin Chrisman, arrived in Ventura in the 1870s to take advantage of the opportunities available in a growing community. As a civic leader and insightful visionary, Gilpin established Ventura's first electrical plant, an early shopping mall, El Jardin Patio and one of Ventura's first subdivisions bordered to the west by Chrisman Avenue. Joe's father, Clarence, carried on the farming and land development tradition, farming in areas along Thompson Boulevard, Seaward Avenue and Mills Road. In addition he was instrumental in establishing the Saticoy Golf Club.

As a young man, Joe attended grammar school in Los Angeles and graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1933. Continuing his education at the University of Southern California, he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. While a student at USC Joe was introduced by Rita Mae McGrath Mercer and Alex Mercer to Genrose Ruth Suytar. During college breaks and on weekends, Joe and Genrose went on long horseback rides between the Suytar family home at the base of what is now Casitas Dam and his family home located on what now is Pacific View Mall. He loved to organize barbecues with friends such as Gus Ferro, Lawrence See and Pete Clark at the Randall Ranch in Wheeler Canyon. In July 1940 Genrose and Joe were married in Reno, Nev. They lived on the Chrisman family farm at Mills Road and Telegraph Road. In 1942 Joe left the family farm to serve as a Navy officer during World War II. He served in the Aleutian Islands and the South Pacific. One of his favorite World War II stories was about the passenger liner Normandy that capsized while being refurbished for military use at the docks in the New York City harbor. Joe supervised a team of Navy divers assigned to salvage the ship and remove it from the waterway. After a night on leave, one of the young divers he supervised fell asleep while underwater and Joe had to wake him up. It always amazed him that anyone could be such a sound sleeper.

After World War II, Joe and Genrose returned to Ventura and the Chrisman ranch to help care for his mother and to run the family farm. Joe also worked as a contractor for the oil field mud company in Santa Paula, Black Magic. Their first child, Joseph, was born in 1946, followed by Elise in 1948 and William in 1954. During this period, Joe served on the Mound Water Board and in the last term was president. For the next 15 years, Joe raised walnuts, lemons, avocados, tomatoes and Lima beans on the Mills Road property. On weekends and summer vacations he enjoyed taking the family to Santa Cruz Island, Catalina and San Diego on their boat the "Bar Dee."

By the 1960s the Mills Road property was an island surrounded by houses and businesses. Joe and his brother, Jack sold the 59-acre ranch to developers, who built the Buenaventura Shopping Mall. In 1962 Joe bought a rice ranch in Williams, Calif., and spent the next 25 years farming, drying and milling rice, never missing the planting or harvesting seasons. In the late 1980s Joe turned the rice farming operation over to his three children. During retirement, Joe loved making trips to Williams to examine new farm implements designed and manufactured by his son, Bill, and to see first hand the changes occurring in the rice industry.

Health problems prevented Joe from traveling to Williams in his later years but he never missed a family dinner in Ventura on Sunday night. His children, spouses and all available grandchildren gathered weekly to share funny stories and enjoy each other's company.

Joe is survived by his wife of 67 years, Genrose; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Valerie and their children, Joe Chrisman and Beth Chrisman Smith and her husband Darren; daughter and son-in-law Elise and Bill Kearney and their children, Alison Kearney Davis and her husband Todd Davis and John Kearney and his son Bill; children, Sara and Randy Chrisman.

The family asks that you kindly not send flowers. Donations can be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice or the Museum of Ventura County.

At his request, there will be no services.