Josefa Rodriguez Diaz

Josefa Rodriguez Diaz peacefully joined her beloved husband, Gil Ponce Diaz, on Nov 19, 2019, after an extended illness.  Born in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, Philippines on Feb 4, 1934 to Ambrocio and Salvacion Rodriguez.  She was a schoolteacher in Chemistry and Mathematics before she came to the United States to support her husband’s military career.  They lived in Navy towns like Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, and Lemoore.  Retired and moved to Richland, WA and North Salt Lake, UT. 

Josie will always be remembered as a kind and loving mother, wife and friend who always put others before herself.  Although she had a long career working and retiring from the Lemoore Naval Air Station Navy Exchange, in her eyes, her primary job and joy in life was raising her three sons Gil (Tami), Scott and Peter each of which followed in her academia and graduating from the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy. 

Josie enjoyed going to and singing at the church choir at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Lemoore, CA, volunteering at their local polling places, cooking, gardening, watching wrestling with her husband and spoiling her three grandchildren (Kincaid, Kip and Morgan).  She was an individual identified by her love of family, faith in God and kindness to all she encountered.  Josie is survived by her three sons (Peter, Scott, & Gil Jr.), three Grandchildren (Morgan, Kip & Kincaid) and 2 sisters (Florentina Rodriguez and Adela Tsao (Gregory).  She was preceded by her Husband Gil Ponce Diaz (married for 55 years) and her siblings:  Dionisio Rodriguez (Teresa), Rafael Rodriguez  (Estrella), Adelina Betita (Salvador), Alberto Rodriguez, Baldomera Rodriguez, & Andrea Rodriguez.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 29, 2019 at St Olaf Catholic Church, 1800 South Orchard Drive, Bountiful, where a viewing will be held from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to services.  Burial will be at Bountiful’s Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in a celebration for both Josefa Rodriguez and Gil Ponce Diaz.  Together Forever.