Jose A. Sanchez, 72, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at his home. He was born on January 15, 1938 in Yuma, Arizona to Jose Angel Sanchez and Louisa Espino Arriola. Joe graduated from Yuma High School. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Joe was credited on two occasions for the saves of an Icelandic Piper Apache and a T-33 as an air traffic controller. Successful in business, Joe started and operated Paradise Pools and Spas, Inc. until his retirement in 1995. Joe is survived by his sister; Helen Ochoa; wife, Lydia Sanchez; children Sandra (Mike) Hernandez, Alma Sanchez, Joe David (JD) (Kimberly) Sanchez, Deborah Sanchez, Elizabeth (Frank) Garrett, Diana (Michael) Teegardin; twenty grandchildren; one great granddaughter; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that he thought of as part of his family. Joe expressed a wish to thank the Yuma Community for many "fantastic" years. He will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor, and loyal friend to all who knew him. A special thank you goes out to our angel, Hospice nurse Bryanna, and Pastor Larry and Janet Van Cleef of Champion Church. Donations in honor of Joe can be made to Team Bridget at AEA Credit Union or to Hospice of Yuma, to whom the family is eternally grateful. Memorial service will be held at the Sunset Terrace located at the Yuma Civic Center on Monday, March 15, 2010.