Joel R. Longenecker

Joel R. Longenecker passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, about two months shy of his 84th birthday. As a lifelong creative, he played piano, guitar, was a teller of tales, and engaged in sculpting, painting, illustration, and photography.

Joel was born in Buffalo, New York and was raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Reseda High School and then San Fernando Valley State College (now CSU Northridge), where he met the love of his life and future wife, Christine (Tina) Wood. They married in 1964. Two children soon followed and the young family moved to Thousand Oaks where they stayed until their deaths in 2025. He worked in the aerospace industry and, after earning his Juris Doctorate from the San Fernando Valley College of Law, became a Director for Northrup Grumman. Joel was an active father and chaperoned trips for both his daughter’s Camp Fire Girls group, and son’s Cub Scout Pack.

In their later years, Joel and Tina traveled the world with stops in Asia, Australia, Europe and throughout North America.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Rose, and wife of over sixty-one years, Tina. He is survived by daughter, Christine Marie Longenecker; son, Eric B. Longenecker; daughter-in-law, Jamie E. Longenecker; granddaughter, Alyssa (Riley) Longenecker; brother, Greg Longenecker; and sister, Lenore Silva.

His crooked smile and sense of humor will truly be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 12 noon, Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, 2052 Howard Road, Camarillo, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The City Center Transitional Living, https://www.thecitycenter.org/, or PO Box 24156, Ventura, CA 93002.