Joseph Farrington

Joseph Farrington, a Lab retiree, died Nov. 30 at Dameron Hospital in Stockton. He was 84.

Born Sept. 11, 1924, in Jefferson, N.C., Farrington lived in Tracy 40 years before moving to Lockeford, Calif. in 2000.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a machinist first mate aboard a PT boat in the South Pacific. He later worked at the Lab's Site 300 as a high explosives machinist for 35 years.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as well as the American Legion Post 172, both in Tracy.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and exploring the great outdoors. He also loved to golf, scoring a hole-in-one twice in his life, once at age 84. He was a foster dad to 52 children.

Farrington is survived by his wife of 16 years, Ida B. Farrington; eight children, Tom Farrington of Lockeford; Rick Farrington, and his wife, Phoebe of Manteca; Evie Waters-Herrera, and her husband, Andre, of Manteca; Jennifer House, and her husband, Jerry, of Lodi; Kathy Celestine of Tracy; Carol Snodderly, and her husband, Gene, of Tracy; Arlene Daharo, and her husband, Chemo, of Tracy and Frank Gilliand of Manteca; a brother, Andy Farrington of Virginia Beach, Va.; 22 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Willie Farrington; his first wife, Emma Rosalie Farrington in 1992; two daughters, Mary Ann Farrington and Ida Ball; and nine siblings.

Services will be held Dec. 5 at 10 a.m., at Hotchkiss Mortuary, 5 W. Highland Ave., Tracy. Burial will be in Tracy Cemetery, 600 E. Schulte Road.

Donations in Farrington's name may be sent to the American Cancer Society, San Joaquin/Calaveras Unit, 207 E. Alpine Ave., Stockton, CA 95204; or on the American Cancer Society Website.