Joseph Donaldson, died on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the age of 84, at his home under hospice care. A son of the late Joseph Viayra and Betty Lou Donaldson, Joe was born in Los Angeles, CA on Christmas Day in 1940.

Joe spent most of his life working on, repairing and rebuilding machines and heavy equipment. He was a mechanic for the City of Costa Mesa and the City of Irvine. He retired as Head Mechanic for the Water District in Yorba Linda.

Joe was a lifelong race car enthusiast. He spent enormous amounts of time at both drag races and dirt tracks all over Southern California. Later in life he even worked on a dirt track pit crew with his Grandson Tyson. For a time he even had his own Jet Car leading to his nickname "Joe the Jet". After retirement he went to work at Pick's Racing, building sprint car engines for 12 years.

Upon leaving Pick's, Joe found his next passion the USS Iowa. Located in San Pedro, this decommissioned WWII Battleship, has been turned into a museum. Joe began as a volunteer spending over a 1,000 hours helping anywhere needed. Recognized for his work ethic,  dedication and attention to detail, he was eventually hired as the ship's welder. His work to restore the ship included installing an elevator for handicapped accessibility.

Joe moved to Bonnie Brae Farms in Wellington Ohio in 2018. A man of faith, Joe was a member of the Rochester United Methodist Church. Often Joe could be found working on machinery or his John Deere tractor. He took pride in mowing his yard. He loved all the animals on the farm and attended lovingly to the cats. He enjoyed the elk, sheep and cattle which many times were visible outside his window. While separated by 2,000 miles, Joe enjoyed watching both his grandson Tyson and great-grandchild SadieLee race at dirt tracks on Facebook.

Joe had a magnetic personality that attracted people to him. Whether it was doctors' appointments or hospitalization, he quickly made friends with his doctors and nurses and soon had them laughing over his jokes and life experiences.

Left to treasure his memory are his loving wife, Maribelle (Murray) Donaldson; children, Joseph Michael Donaldson, of Lake Elsinore, CA and Jeri Lee Donaldson, of Lake Havasu, AZ; grandchildren, Tyson Talkington, Erin Donaldson, and Cody Donaldson; great grandchildren, Callie, Travis, SadieLee, Brooks, Henry, Charlotte, Miller, Myra, Wole and Anna; and his brother, Peter. Joe was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Lee in 1997 and his brother David.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Rochester United Methodist Church, 201 S. State Street, Rochester, with a luncheon following service.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to www.Pacificbattleship.com. Click Donate + support link, then Click Donate and Choose "Ship Preservation and Maintenance."

Arrangements were entrusted to Norton-Eastman Funeral Home and fond memories and condolences can be shared at www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.