[above] Joe's widow Angie Favela is flanked by her son Rick and daughter Rose Marquez at the Battle of the Bulge display in the ETO Gallery of the National World War II Museum complex in New Orleans. Second photo is the brick dedicated in his honor outside the museum.

A funeral Mass will be offered for Joe on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Kilian’s Catholic Church in Mission Viejo CA. No information is yet available on a place of inurnment

Joe enlisted in the Army at Phoenix, AZ on 1 February 1942.  As he was an immigrant his enlistment record lists him as "White, not yet a citizen".

He volunteered for parachutist duty and was assigned to Hq Hq Company, 508th PIR where he received training as a demolitions expert. 

On 14 July 1943 Jose Lopez Favela was granted citizenship and officially changed his first name to Joseph rather than Jose. (see petition at right)

Pvt, later Pfc, Favela participated in all four campaigns waged by the 508th and emerged without a scratch.  He was discharged on 3 January 1945.

Joseph L. Favela - Passed away at 93 years old in Las Vegas, NV from natural causes. He was born in Los Mochis, Mexico and raised in Phx [Phoenix], AZ. In 1943 he married his sweetheart Angelita Angulo.

He served with the 508th Infantry, 82nd Airborne, in Europe during WWII. He was involved in parachute combat jumps into Normandy on D-Day, Holland and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he finished his education and graduated from ASU with his B.A.

Joe and Angie moved to California where he settled into a teaching career. After spending 20 years teaching at Sparks Jr. High School in La Puente, CA he retired in 1987 and moved Angie to Las Vegas. They enjoyed 27 years there together.

Joseph was preceded in death by his mother Fernanda, his brother Ovistano and his son Armando. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Angelita, sons Fernando and Rick, and daughter Rose, his sister, Mary Knowlton and six grandchildren. It was a good long run and a lot of fun. A memorial mass will be held at St Kilian's Catholic Church on Sat. 2/21/15 at 2 PM located at 26873 Estanciero Drive Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

[Published in San Gabriel Valley Tribune on Feb. 15, 2015]