A life well lived, a heart deeply loved.

Joshua Adam Place, 46, passed away on Sept. 15, 2026, in Lompoc. He was born on March 6, 1980, in Plattsburgh, New York, to Russell and Paula Place.

Joshua graduated from Santa Ynez Valley High School in 1999. He spent 14 years working for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County and later worked for Caltrans.

Above all, Joshua was a wonderful and devoted father to his son Hayden. He passed along to Hayden his love of dirt-bike riding and the two spent countless hours riding together in the mountains of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Joshua also loved the ocean and body surfing, another passion he shared with Hayden. Those adventures and the time they spent together were an important part of their father-and-son relationship.

Joshua loved being outdoors, whether he was riding dirt bikes, hiking, body surfing, enjoying water sports, or simply spending time in the mountains.

He also loved lifted trucks and music, particularly bands such as Sublime, NOX, and Linkin Park.

Relationships and loyalty meant everything to Joshua. He had a core group of close friends, some of whom had been part of his life since he was five years old. Joshua valued those friendships deeply and made an effort throughout his life to maintain them.

Joshua shared an especially close bond with his younger sister Jenna-Brie. From the day she was born until the day he died, he was fiercely protective of her. Their sibling relationship was extraordinarily close and was something very special to witness.

Joshua will be remembered for his sensitivity, his loyalty, his love for his family and friends, his willingness to help others, and especially for the love he had for his son.

Joshua is survived by his son Hayden Place; parents Russell and Paula Place; sister Jenna-Brie Engelke, her husband Christopher Engelke and their son Brody Engelke; grandparents Elizabeth Adkins and Richard Grand (Carol); as well as his uncles, cousins, extended family, and many longtime friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ron and Gloria Place.

A celebration of life will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at Old Mission Santa Inés 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joshua’s memory to the
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, an organization that was an important part of Joshua’s life for many years.

Joshua will be deeply missed and forever loved.