Joe Benavides Torres

Rev. Joe Benavides Torres, age 87 passed away Jan 18, 2014 at Loma Linda Veterans Hospital. He was born May 15, 1926 to Alejandro and Rita Torres in Hanover, NM. He was a 61 year resident of Redlands, CA. He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Carmen and his sons John of Yucaipa and Rick (Tammy) of Sajuarito, AZ; 9 granchildren, 19 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Joe joined the Navy at the age of 17 during WWII and served on the aircraft carrier USS Bismarck Sea. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, on February 21, 1945, the Bismarck Sea was sunk by two Japanese Kamikazes and he was one of the 600 survivors after finally being rescued from the shark infested frigid water. He was able to witness the raising of the American Flag on Mount Suribachi while on the deck of a rescue cruiser. In 1951, he graduated from the Latin American Bible Institute in La Puente, CA and began his life as an Assemblies of God minister. In the early 70 s, he was an evangelist traveling to Mexico and Central America reaching thousands with the word of God. In 1975, he founded the Redlands A of G church, Templo Lirio del Valle. He was known for his booming voice and dynamic sermons filled with stories and anecdotes. Joe also was a well known auto painter working at several auto dealerships in the area beginning at Hatfield Buick in 1955. After retiring in 1988 he spent his time with the love of his life, Carmen, and their many grandkids. He loved watching old Bonanza and Gunsmoke westerns on TV. We will miss his funny stories and infectious laughter and the way he would answer the phone with a deep booming hello . Our only solace is that one day we will be together again and I know he will have a new joke to tell us and we will again laugh together with him. A celebration of Joe s life will be held at Emmerson Bartlett Mortuary, 703 Brookside Avenue, Redlands, CA on Saturday January 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.