Joseph Earl Pollard, 69, San Diego, California, passed away on October 9, 2017.
Joseph (Joe) was born on June 7, 1948, in Eureka, California to his parents Alfred Earl and Marcene Pollard. Joe grew up in Fortuna, California graduating from Fortuna High School in 1966. Joe served in the United States Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic from November 1967 until he was honorably discharged in November 1973.
Joe worked as a sheet metal worker and earned a State of California Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship in July 1977. During his sheet metal career in Humboldt County working in heating and air-conditioning, he worked for his uncle Harold Pollard at Brom and Pollard Sheet Metal and Heating ending this phase of his career at Norcal Industries (NCI) in Eureka, California in 1981.
In 1981 Joe applied for work with the United States Navy Civil Service. Joe moved his family to Napa, California to continue his sheet metal career at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In 1994 Mare Island went into base closure. Joe was offered a transfer to San Diego, California finishing out his career at North Island Naval Air Station. With 38 years of civil service, Joe retired in August, 2015.
Throughout his career at Mare Island and North Island Joe received several awards and recognitions including: Employee of the Year, Employee of the Quarter and Employee of the Month, Certificate for Extra Step, Special Act Award, Letter of Appreciation, Certificate of Recognition for Service during the Cold War (2 Sept. 1945-26 December 1991), Certificate for Quality and many Minimal Sick Leave Usage awards. Joe also received a monetary award for a Beneficial Suggestion.
Joe was an avid gun collector and was proud of his Lifetime Membership in the NRA. He and Nita enjoyed a cruise to the Mexican Riviera and Hawaii. They also traveled on several occasions alternating between San Antonio, Texas to visit Kristie and her family and Virginia Beach, Virginia to visit Alan and his daughters.
In August 1977 Joe met Nita Gilbertson and they married in January 1978. Joe was proud of his daughter Kristie Lynn Mendez and son, Alan Earl Pollard. He adored his four granddaughters, Natalie Pollard, Amelia Mendez, Valerie Pollard and Devyn Mendez. In addition to them, Joe is survived by his brother Daniel Jack Pollard, niece Jessica Kiser and her two sons, Jackson and Boman, his niece Larrada Redden, niece Marcy Deshon, nephews Ken and Russel Harr, cousin Eileen Mora and her husband Lee Mora, cousin Jay Pollard and many additional relatives in the Humboldt County area, including sister-in-laws Rita Hefley and Debbie Gilbertson, brother-in-law Lee Gilbertson and his wife, Cindy. Also his mother-in-law, Virgia West and her husband Bob West, Mountain Home, Idaho and father-in-law Richard Gilbertson, Searsboro, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Talley and nephew Michael Talley.
There will be a Committal Ceremony with military honors held on October 18, 2017 @ 1:30 p.m. at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.

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