Rev. Joseph Billock

MENIFEE, Calif. — Rev. Joseph Billock, 64, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at San Joaquin General Hospital in Stockton, Calif.

Joseph Patrick Billock was born March 16, 1957, to Clara and Philip Billock, in Vienna. He was the fifth of 11 children. After graduating from Mathews High School in 1975, he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Ricketts for four years. After working on oil rigs in Oklahoma for a couple of years, he moved to Southern California to be near his brother, John and John’s wife, Sandy.

He earned an A.A. in speech from Cerritos Community College in 1985 and then moved to Point Loma Nazarene College to work on his B.A. in theology. Joe and Wendy met through a mutual friend at PLNC in January 1988. They were married Aug. 5, 1989, the summer before their senior year. They graduated from PLNC in 1990. After graduation, they stayed in the San Diego area, Joe working as a bellman for Holiday Inn and Wendy working in biotechnology.

Both Joe and Wendy were actively involved in ministry at Linda Vista Church of the Nazarene, including Sunday School, Youth Group, Missions, and serving on the Church Board. Joe first received his local minister’s license in 1993 and was ordained in 1996. He served in multiple churches in the Southern California District of the Church of the Nazarene. He served two years as the senior pastor of Fallbrook Church of the Nazarene, but spent the majority of his career as an associate pastor, including Linda Vista, Rancho Hills, Moreno Valley and Menifee Valley Churches of the Nazarene.

Joe was a lifelong Ohio sports fan and enjoyed watching The Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Cleveland Indians, Browns and Cavaliers games on TV from California. He also enjoyed playing games like chess and cards. Joe was a musician and played both the guitar and piano.

Joe was both funny and generous. While not everyone got his dry humor, he loved telling jokes and making people laugh. Joe was an incredibly generous person and went out of his way to help people whenever he saw a need.

Pastor Joe suffered from numerous health issues including a stroke, arthritis, Valley Fever and cancer, and he eventually died from cardiac arrest after complications following vascular surgery. His family and friends were grateful for the extended time they had with Joe while he was in and out of the hospital over the past decade. During his time of hospitalization and recovery, he continued to call, pray for and encourage his friends and family daily.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy; and 10 siblings, Marilyn Morgan, Phylis Donathan, Phil Billock, John Billock, Carol McCabe, Clara Thomas, Lois Patterson, Jimmy Billock, Marion Johnson and Margie Lazor.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Philip Billock; and five siblings, Mary Elizabeth, Jeannette Marie, Edward Michael, Judith Ann and Jerry Gerard Billock.

Joseph’s funeral service will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, 4303 Mahoning Ave., where calling hours will be held one hour prior to the service.