Joe was a happy man who enjoyed a full and adventurous life. Bright of mind and kind of heart, Joe never met a stranger he didn't like, and was always "up" for anything that might come his way. Joe was very proud of his Portuguese heritage and honored to serve as President of the United Portuguese S.E.S., Inc as well as the Portuguese American Social and Civic Club. Raised in the La Playa neighborhood where his mother Deutilde still resides, Joe was a Pt. Loma boy all the way, enjoying swimming with his brothers at Kellogg Beach, the paper route with his dog George, and playing football at Pt. Loma High. Joe went on to play two seasons at USD and was one of 21 players selected by Don Coryell's "New Faces-1961" program to join San Diego State'sFootball team. Next stop, the San Diego Police Department for 10 years. He was first a "beat" cop and then a Detective. Joe loved nabbing the bad guys and the close relationship with his fellow officers. Joe's father, the late Edward S. Varley, was a Portuguese fisherman, Boat Captain and Co-owner for many years of the tuna clipper "Sun Victoria". Eventually the lure of the Tuna Industry was too much to pass up and Joe worked his way up to become a Chief Engineer on several different boats, traveling to Samoa, and many other exotic ports around the world. Upon retiring from fishing, Joe was involved in many entrepreneurial enterprises. He became a Realtor in the 90's became affiliated with Prudential California Realty. Joe was very active in the community. Shortly before he became ill, he was elected to the Peninsula Planning Board. He was a member of the Honorary Deputy Sheriffs' Assoc. where he held the rank of Lieutenant, and The Pt. Loma Optimists. Joe is survived by his wife Dianne, mother Deutilde, brother Jimmy, his children, Shannon, John (Daisy and Sophia), Jimmy, Jeffrey, and Joseph Jr; stepchildren Bill Rees and Sandra Bowen and her children Rhihannon and Serena, and Kirsten (John and baby Maria) Kirwan and a host of nieces and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m Friday, April 11,2008 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1140 Evergreen St. San Diego 92106, followed by a reception at the United Portuguese Hall in Pt. Loma. In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to the Scholarship Fund of the Portuguese American Social & Civic Club, 2812 Avenida De Portugal, San Diego, CA 92106

Source:
San Diego Union-Tribune on April 10, 2008