AOCM (AW/SW) Joe Brown Waldrep III, USN (Ret)

Joe Brown Waldrep III, a proud retiree of the United States Navy, passed away Saturday, July 23rd 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 11th, 1958 and raised in Gainesville, Georgia. He attended local schools through High School Graduation and just prior to his 21st birthday, Joe enlisted in the United States Navy on December 7th, 1979 and began his active-duty career 12 days later on December 19th, 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 (😎 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.

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