Joseph Frederick Barbea

Joseph Frederick Barbea died peacefully in his home in Tucson Arizona on September 30, 2020 at the age of 91. Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 56 years Gloria Brady Barbea, his sons Roger Barbea, Richard Barbea, Ronald Barbea, and Joseph Barbea Jr. and his daughters Jeanne Angell, Paula Barbea and Mellissa Denogean, step-daughter Diana Vidal, step-son Robert Vidal and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister Paula Millam of Curtis Washington, daughter Annette Barbea and step-son John Vidal of Tucson, Arizona. Born in Chelan Washington to Paul Barbea and Hazel Pickett, he grew up in the apple orchards along the lake. After graduating high school, he served proudly as a Corporal in the United States Army Signal Corps. His natural ability and scientific mind, along with the training he received served him throughout his life. He could fix or build anything, and if the tool to fix something did not exist, he would create it. Joseph moved to Tucson, Arizona after his discharge and found a deep love of the desert. He spent his working hours in photography, ground and aerial surveying, and in the creation of aerial maps. Weekends found him in the desert, hiking, exploring, stargazing, camping, and teaching his children and grandchildren to love the natural world alongside him. Joseph was a deeply spiritual person who believed that religion and science were one and the same. He was able to quote the Bible from memory, read the Dead Sea Scrolls, studied Zoroasterism, Buddhism, and as well as any other religious text he could get his hands on, and found truth in them all. All who knew him remember him for his profound kindness and openheartedness. He was unafraid of death, knowing it is not the end, but a new beginning. He is deeply missed. He requested no services.