Charles Torrez

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved father, Charles Joseph Torrez. He left this earth on January 07, 2024. Christmas 2023, he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, which had metastasized to his liver and kidneys. He leaves behind a profound void in the lives of his loved ones.

Charles was born October 6, 1959, in the Panama Canal Zone to Ygnacio and Manuela Torrez, while his father, Ygnacio, was stationed in Panama. He was one of four children: the late Sylvia, Chic, and Phillip.

He was an adventurous soul and a lover of music. Attending many concerts, including Bob Marley, Train, Bob Segar, Ziggy Marley, Alanis Morissette, and Dave Mathews Band, to name a few. In fact, he and his brother Phil met the original band members of Lynard Skynyrd and attended one of their shows backstage.

Charles is a patriot and shares his love of the military with his son, Chris. Charles joined the Marines at the age of 18 and served in the Marines and Marine Reserves from 1977 to 1983. He was honorably discharged, before pursuing a career in diesel trucking. Here he traveled along the California coast and Western United States, which likely influenced his love for cruising and Nascar. He was a member of the San Diego Porsche Club since his purchase of a 2002 Boxster, which he spent his free time customizing and had recently rebuilt the transmission.

Charles spent the vast majority of his adult career working for General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Solar Turbines.

He worked as a space launch vehicle mechanic, marine systems mechanic, and tank fabricator for Lockheed Martin. Responsible for the final assembly of space launch vehicles and Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles for the U.S. Navy.

Charles contributed to the successful ‌launch of the Martin Marietta Atlas II/AC-112 in Cape Canaveral. During the summers, he often took Adrian and Valerie to launch miniature rockets. Combined with his diesel trucking background, he drove portions of rockets to Florida and Texas for final assembly before launch.

In 2001, he was hired at Solar Turbines, where he continued to work as a sheet metal fabricator and then received further education and became certified in Tig, Mig, and Arc welding in 2002.

Charles retired in 2018, after a 17-year tenure with Solar Turbines.

Charles is survived by his three children: Christopher, Adrian, and Valerie. Charles was a man of great strength, who overflowed with love for anyone who entered his life. He will be remembered as a fun, loving father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Rest in Paradise; your light shines forever in our souls.

Included is a poem written by Charles for his dad, a sentiment his children feel as well:

There’s not one thing that my father couldn’t do.

To me, he was the greatest.

I was afraid that if he passed away before me, 

I would not know what to do or how to handle it like he would.

I still feel that way, especially since he is gone.

Dad, I miss you, I really do.

I am so glad that you were my dad.

Love, Charles