Joe Cordova Galvan

Joe Cordova Galvan our dad was one of a kind and loved by all who knew him. Our dad Joe Cordova Galvan or Uncle Joe to a lot of you, was born and raised in Santa Ana CA in 1930 in a little house near the corner of Orange & Adams in the Delhi Neighborhood of Santa Ana. Our dad lived through a lot of difficult times growing up during the depression then serving his country during the Korean War. Dad never strayed far from where he grew up never living more than 6 miles from his family home. Dad saw huge changes in the city and the county. He watched bean fields that he had worked when he was a child turn into office buildings and shopping centers. He saw farms turn into homes and schools and dirt roads turn into highways. Dad eventually would move the family to the Sandpointe area of Santa Ana from 1977 to 2021. Dad never forgot where he came from and all the struggles along the way that made him who he was.

Dad was always a family man first taking care of his family before taking care of himself. My dad loved our mom Celia Saldana Galvan who preceded him in death in 2018. Dad along with my mom raised three children, Ruben S. Galvan, Celia Ann Galvan and Victor S. Galvan. Dad was affectionately known as Tata to his eight Grandchildren, Tatiana Verona Galvan, Ruben Galvan Jr, Alyssa Galvan, Arianna Galvan, Sal Galvan, Isaac Galvan, Damian Fox Galvan and Melia Nicole Galvan. Tata had two great grandchildren Sasha Verona Galvan and Rosalina Jamie DeCarlo.

Dad loved to laugh, and he loved to dance. Whenever there was a family event be it a wedding or a party. My Dad would be in the center of the dance floor along with my mom dancing and holding each other like two star crossed lovers in a movie. You would literally have to pry them off the dance floor or turn off the lights to get them to stop. My dad enjoyed his music, good movies and good food. He loved Western Movies starring John Wayne or Gary Cooper and Clint Eastwood. He loved the gangster movies of the 30’s with Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart and George Wrath. He loved the comedy of the Three Stooges, Abbott & Costello, Laurel and Hardy and Cantinflas. My Dad loved all kinds of different music mostly Mexican. He listened to Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Pedro Infante, Pedro Vargas and Los Panchos to name a few. He enjoyed Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Hank Williams and the Ink Spots.

Dad is at peace now with his wife Celia Saldana Galvan, his mother Belen Cordova Galvan, his father Silvano Galvan his granddaughter Alyssa Galvan and his daughter-in-law Senaida Galvan. Dad loved us all and I know he’s reunited with all his family in Heaven and we will all be together again in the grace of God.

Don't cry for me. to welcome me home. Heaven is my home now, and this is where I'll stay. Don't cry for me. I'm where I belong. I want you to be happy and try to stay strong. Don't cry for me. It was just my time, but I will see you someday on the other side. Don't cry for me. I am not alone. The angels are with me Don't cry for me, for I have no fear. All my pain is gone, and Jesus took my tears. Don't cry for me. This is not the end. I'll be waiting here for you when we meet again.

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