Albert Joe Torretta

Albert was born in Walla Walla on March 2, 1921 to his parents, Paul & Angela Torretta who immigrated from Italy. He grew up & worked on the family truck farm until July 1942 when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was sent to San Diego, California for boot camp.

May 1943, he sailed to New Calendonia (at that time a staging area) on a Liberty ship which took 32 days to reach their destination. From there, the company was engaged in three Pacific battles. The first battle was Bougainvile in the Solomon Islands, then later to Guam & on to Okinawa. This was the last battle of World War II. He stopped at many other islands and China. Al was in the Pacific Theater for over 32 months and sailed on 14 different Navy vessels. During this time overseas, he earned 11 campaign ribbons & one Navy Unit citation. In 2004, 60 years after the battle for Guam, Al received a medal & beautiful citation signed by the Governor of Guam. December 1945, they sailed back to Bremerton Navy yard near Seattle, Washington. Al was discharged from the Marine Corps February 1946, returning home to Walla Walla.

On Thanksgiving Day 1946, he & Dorothy Meiners were married & moved to Yakima, Washington. While living in Yakima, they welcomed their first child, Patrick. Later that year, the family returned to Walla Walla & Al became an electrical contractor and was in the business for over 38 years.

Al was associated with St. Vincent de Paul Society for 32 years & nine of those years served as president. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the local Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, Northwest Grain Growers & Washington State Farm Bureau. He was very proud to be associated with the planning of the annual Marine Crops Anniversary celebrations for many years.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Dorothy; 3 sons, Patrick (Linda) of Spokane, WA, Mark (Kathy) of Renton, WA, John of Edmonds, WA; daughter, Mariann of Spokane Valley, WA; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Shields of Vashon Island, WA; sisters, Angela of Bellevue, WA and Caroline of Walla Walla; a brother, David of Mt. Vernon; 8 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven, daughter, Paula Leah and babies, James Evert, Joan Marie & Monica Lee.

The Rosary will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 6:00 PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA with Sister Helen Mason officiating. The Memorial Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Assumption Catholic Church with Father David Kuttner, officiant. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Assumption Catholic Church or St. Vincent de Paul through the funeral home.