Joe Brown Waldrep Iii

Joe Brown Waldrep III, a proud retiree of the United States Navy, passed away Saturday, July
23 rd in the presence of his beloved wife, Michelle and her family, and daughter, Britney Maxine
Waldrep and her family. The son of Joe Brown Waldrep II and Lorraine Agnes (Leptich) Waldrep
of Gainesville, Georgia. Joe was born on December 11 th , 1958 and raised in Gainesville, Georgia.
He attended local schools through High School Graduation and just prior to his 21 st birthday, Joe
enlisted in the United States Navy on December 7 th , 1979 and began his active-duty career 12
days later on December 19 th , 1979. Joe valued his service highly and attained the rank of
Aviation Ordnanceman, Master Chief Petty Officer (Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist and Enlisted
Surface Warfare Specialist). During his service, Joe served in Sea Control Squadron 24 (VS-24),
Attack Squadron 45 (VA-45), Fighter Squadron 45 (VF-45), USS Forrestal (CV-59), Naval Air
Station Roosevelt Roads, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division Patuxent River, USS
Independence (CV-62), Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Detachment, Strike Fighter
Squadrons 125 (VFA-125) and 137 (VFA-137), Naval Air Maintenance Training Activity
(NAMTRA) at Lemoore, California, and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) at China
Lake, California. Joe participated in numerous conflicts and exercises while deployed and
forward deployed including Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI
FREEDOM and has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal
(2), Navy Achievement Medal (5), Good Conduct Medal (9), National Defense Service Medal (2),
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
(8) and Overseas Ribbon (3) and numerous unit commendations and other personal awards.
Joe also served honorably as a Department of Defense Government Civilian supporting the
Naval Ordnance Management Policy Manual responsible for content and revisions and as the
Recertification Manager for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Program. Joe Waldrep enjoyed
the great outdoors, camping and fishing with friends and family, riding motorcycles, tearing
through the landscape on his ATV, piloting his drone, brewing the perfect espresso, watching
the Jacksonville Jaguars (win or lose), the never-ending battle of wits with his local black bear
and most of all, any time spent with Michelle, daughter Britney, Biggy and his large circle of
friends. Joe is preceded in death by his father and mother, Joe Brown Waldrep II and Lorraine
Agnes (Leptich) Waldrep, of Gainesville, GA. Joe is survived by his beloved wife Michelle
Annette (Craver) Waldrep, of Lake Isabella ,CA; daughter Britney Maxine Waldrep of Lemoore,
CA; mother of his child Beatrice Martinez Waldrep; sister Katlynn Waldrep Cote of Gainesville,
GA; Colleen "Suzi" Waldrep of Independence, MO; father and mother-in-law Alfred and
Annette Craver of Inyokern, CA; brother and sister-in-law John and Candace Whitesel of Port
Hueneme, CA: nieces and nephews Lauren Morris Jones, Jordan Morris, Ryan Morris, Sean
Morris, Shannon Padilla; dog Biggy; and a host of other family and friends. A service honoring
the life of Joe Brown Waldrep III will be held at Holland Lyons Mortuary in Ridgecrest, CA at
9:00AM on Friday, August 19 th with internment to immediately follow at Desert Memorial Park
in Ridgecrest, CA. A celebration of life will be at 12:30PM at the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW) in Ridgecrest, CA. Family and friends are welcome to attend all.