José "Joe" Ochoa

José (Joe) Omar Ochoa, dedicated husband, loving father, grandfather of four, and friend to many passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the age of 77, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  José was born to Refugio and Leonarda Ochoa in Brownsville, Texas, and lived in Ohio, Texas, Hawaii, North Carolina, and finally, Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

Through his early years, José was very active in sports, fishing with his father and brother Joel Ochoa. He graduated from Port Isabel High School in Texas, and he then joined the US Army, where he was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War.  After returning from Germany, he attended Southmost College with an associate's degree.

He then met the love of his life, Dina Flores, and they spent 55 years loving each other as they built their family.  Married in 1967, José and Dina welcomed three children Esther, Linda, and José, Jr.  José worked many years in the telecommunications industry for Bellsouth and General Telephone Electric (GTE). 

He was a dedicated deacon of the Baptist faith and an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.  José was a stranger to no one and found great purpose in sharing the successes, joys, and challenges of those around him.  José was authentically and wholeheartedly there for those in his life and willing to help the less fortunate.  He was active in his faith and a faithful follower of God and Jesus Christ.  José and Dina helped to start churches in Toledo, Ohio, Dickinson, TX, Kingsville, TX, Robstown, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.  After retiring from GTE, José pursued a quieter life closer to his family in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he and Dina enjoyed spending time with their children and grandkids.

José was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dina, and his parents, Refugio and Leonarda, as well as his siblings, Teodoro Ochoa, Ismael Ochoa and Monica Cisneros.   His three children and their spouses survive him: Esther & Patrick Gonzales of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Linda and Sean Pinckard of Winston Salem, NC, and José and Sara Ochoa of Chicago, IL, and his doggy daughter Ms. Lolita Ochoa.  Grandchildren, Mia Ochoa Moser, Raith Luke Bennalick, Carson Pinckard, and Benjamin (Boo) Ochoa. His siblings also survive him; Refugio and wife Pam Ochoa, Nayita and Mike Doherty, Joel and Inez Ochoa, Celia Hinojosa, Isis and Bob Williams, Margie McGary, Froilian and Sharon Ochoa.  He had many nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.

In his memory, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and ChiArts  The funeral will be Friday, January 6th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Schrader’s Funeral Home, 2222 Russell Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001 with burial at the Cheyenne National Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the residence of Esther and Patrick Gonzales.