Padilla Information

Joseph Paul Padilla was a native San Diegan born May 27, 1945. His parents were Mary and Frank Padilla. His siblings are Marian Contini, Dolores Sotelo, Frank and Francis, who passed on as an infant. His family retells that Joe was a sensitive child who did not liked to hear or see conflict. Yet, he loved to play cowboys and Indians as a child and he cherished his cowboy hat that his grandfather, Ramon, had given him. Joe was a hard worker. As a preteen, he sought jobs or ways to make money from started jobs as sweeper at the Campus Drive-in, pushing customers grocery baskets to their cars for tips and cleaning a pizza place. As a teenager, he sold newspapers at the Navy Commissary on 32nd and Harbor. At 17, he even decided to play pool for money. He did these jobs while still in school. He graduated from San Diego High School in 1963 and immediately after became a Tuna Fisherman. He also worked for Vonderay Moving Company until the Army drafted him in 1965. He served in Vietnam in the 11th Armor Calvary Regiment Armor CRWM from 1965-1967. He continued to serve in the USA Reserve until 1971. When he returned from Vietnam, he was able to obtain a job at General Dynamics, Convair division. Joe had strong work ethics as he showed this on the day he was married, by going to work so he would not miss a day. Joe met Elena Flores, while she was serving in the Navy, and they were married on November 10, 1967. Joe & Elena had two children Joseph Jr. and Teresa. He loved them very much and was very proud of their accomplishments. He was a very involved father as he drove and attended most all of his childrens activities, football and band. His love and pride extended to his grandchildren, Katherine, Paul, Charity, and Jocelynn. Family was his priority and he worked hard at maintaining, supporting and developing it. He even put his wife through college to become a teacher. To make sure he did that, he continued to work at Vonderay Moving Co for ten years and at Convair for 29 years as a machinist, group leader, and ...