Joe Walter McMasters

Joe Walter McMasters was born on April 18, 1940 in Tulare CA to J.D. and Mae McMasters. He went to Heaven on July 13, 2013 at the age of 73. As a young child, the McMasters family moved quite often as his father worked in the oil fields and construction. In 1960 he married his best friend Annette Pounds. On June 11th they celebrated their 53rd anniversary. They began their family in 1962 with the birth of their daughter Cynthia and in 1964 son Danny. Joe attended elementary and high school in Visalia, and graduated from Mt. Whitney High School. He attended College of the Sequoias where he received his Real Estate License. He served 6 years in the Army National Guard. Joe was always interested in cars, and his father taught him the trade of mechanics that he worked at off and on throughout his life. In 1963, he began a 10 year employ with Western Milk Transport where he started as a driver and was later transferred to Modesto as the Terminal Manager where he remained until the company closed. The family returned to Tulare where Joe owned and operated an Arco station and began his business, Valley Fleet Maintenance with son Danny and son-in-law Rusty Todd. As the boys moved on to support young families, Joe sold the business and sold Real Estate for a short time. He then returned to what he knew best, cars, selling cars for next ten years until retirement in 2002. However, instead of completely retiring for the next 10 years Joe and Annette chose to join a society of retirees who travel and work to see the USA and became full time RVers. They began their adventure at the Ponderosa Ranch " Home of Bonanza " on North Shore Lake Tahoe working April to Oct, and returning home for the holidays with their family. They worked at Jamestown and Avila Beach CA, Bryce Canyon and Yellowstone where they made many life long friends from all over the world. During the winter months through the years they travelled to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Mexico and Spain. Joe loved to play golf, fish and for many years took the family boating and riding motorcycles. As members of Bass Lake Resort Camping, four generations have enjoyed many years of camping and boating. Until Joes death, he enjoyed drinking coffee, having an early lunch and playing cards with the same buddies he had played cards with most of his life. Joe is survived by his wife Annette, daughter Cynthia Todd and Son-in-Law Rusty, son Danny and 6 grandchildren. Russell Todd, Julie Todd, Amanda Cogdill, Shelby McMasters, Dylan McMasters and Zachary Hyatt. He also leaves 8 precious great-grandchildren. His mother-in-law Pauline Pounds as well as a large extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Patsy Jean Crann and Sally Russell. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity. Memorial services will be held on Thursday July 18th at 11:00 a.m. at Gateway Church 1100 South Sowell St., Visalia, CA.