Joe Pereira, 92, a lifelong resident of Los Banos, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Joe was born on his family farm outside of Los Banos and entered into rest on that same farm where he spent his 92 years of life. Joe was born January 17, 1926 to Antone F. and Maria Pereira. He attended Charleston Elementary School and helped his father and siblings with the dairy.
Joe married the love of his life, Josephine Souza, on August 14, 1950 and they have been by each other’s side for over 67 years. Joe brought Josephine home to the farm and started their family, son Joseph, and daughters Shirley, Melinda and Arlene (Rhett) Salha.
Joe believed that hard work, a handshake and your word is what makes a man. He loved cowboys and westerns and would often say he was born in the wrong era. He enjoyed refurbishing tractors and believed that everything could be fixed. In the early 1950’s, they transitioned from the dairy to farming and over the years grew beans, tomatoes, alfalfa, cotton and numerous other crops. He could be found in the fields on his John Deere tractors where he was still working the fields until this past October.
Joe was preceded in death by his parent’s Antone and Maria Pereira, sister Mary Silva and brother Antone.
In addition to his wife and children, Joe is survived by his grandchildren, Travis (Nikki), Nathan, Jarred Salha and great-grandchildren Douglas and Juliette. Brothers Manuel and Henry (Evelyn), sister-in-laws Madeline Pereira, Angie Souza, Patti Souza and Susan Souza and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel in Los Banos from 5-7 pm followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 10 am with a burial service to follow at Los Banos Cemetery.