Joy Allen Jensen

Joy Allen Jensen, a resident of Danville, Calif., died Dec. 21 at Bruns House in Alamo, Calif. He was 88.

Born Jan. 28, 1923, in Manti, Utah, he was the eldest of two sons born to Joy Lynn Jensen and Helen Maude Merriam. Jensen grew up and attended school in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was a graduate of East High School.

Jensen qualified for officer training and a pilot slot in the U.S. Army Air Corp, where he served during World War II as first officer on B-24s and B-29s. After the war, he attended University of Washington, graduating in mechanical engineering.

A succession of jobs brought him and his family to Danville. He began working at the Livermore Radiation Laboratory, now LLNL, where he worked for 35 years. During his early days at the Lab, he was as a test engineer during the atmospheric nuclear testing in the Bikini Islands.

Toward the end of his career his responsibilities shifted to support the disarmament process and he was part of a team which oversaw nuclear decommissioning safety procedures. He also reviewed and declassified the personal work papers of Nobel Laureate Glenn Seaborg.

Jensen was very involved in his children's and grandchildren's activities. He could fix anything. He enjoyed flying, boating on the Delta, and everything to do with cars. He also enjoyed gardening, maintaining a beautiful yard, and was a talented woodworker and craftsman.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Judith Sorensen Jensen; five children and their spouses: John and Allyn Joy Palmer of Livermore, Ron and Jane Hanson of Calgary, Canada; Val and Dorothy Stephens of Sacramento; Jim and Peggy Jensen of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Robert and Debbie Jensen of San Ramon; 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother, Glenn Jensen of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Funeral services were held Dec. 29 in Danville.