Samuel Valdez

VALDEZ, SAMUEL B.-Funeral services for Samuel B. Valdez will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at First Baptist Church in Roswell. Interment will be held at South Park Cemetery. Pastor Aaron Colyer will be officiating. Please come celebrate the amazing life of Samuel B. Valdez; loving husband and father, caring grandfather, comforting friend y soldado de Dios.

Samuel B. Valdez, born March 20, 1923 in Harlingen, TX went to be with our Lord on February 6, 2015. He attended Harlingen High School and joined the United States Navy on July 7, 1942. Samuel's first duty was serving on the USS Porter, a destroyer that was sunk in the South Pacific. He then went on to serve on the USS Neville and then in the Mediterranean Sea, where he participated in the invasion of Sicily. In October 27, 1945 he received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy as a Gunners Mate 3rd Class.

On August 31, 1951 Samuel married Antonia Escobar in Roswell NM. The two went on to have two beautiful daughters. In 1951, Samuel graduated from the Valley Baptist Academy in Brownsville, TX. This is when Samuel and his wife began their journey across New Mexico and Texas serving the Lord. God led them and their family across two states including the towns of Slaton, Elsa, Mathis, Dexter, Ruidoso and Roswell. Samuel and Antonia also participated in First Baptist's television ministries, spreading the Lord's good word from 1980-1985 via live on-air services. Samuel also volunteered at the Opportunity Center as well as working at the Roswell Independent School District well into the late 1990s. He also worked in the Jireh ministries with his late wife Antonia Valdez. Samuel was a volunteer chaplain at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and Lovelace Regional Hospital.

Samuel is preceded in death by his wife Antonia; parents, Louis and Angelica Valdez, grandson; Nicholas Aragon also family members; Cristina Valdez, Joel Valdez, Santos Gomez, Juana Pedraza, Victoria Hodges and Noemi Gonzales.

He is survived by daughters; Pristinia Aragon of Roswell, NM, Diana Castro and her husband Louis of Roswell, NM; sister, Becky and her husband Neftali of Florida; grandchildren Craig Castro and his wife Elizabeth of Albuquerque, Joel Aragon, Melissa Castro and Chantal Aragon all of Roswell, NM; great grandchildren Jordan Castro, Marisol Castro, Isis Castro, Joel Aragon Jr., Genesis Castro, Antjuan McGhee III, Izaak Hernandez, and Luke Castro.

Samuel also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews including the families of Dominic and Candace Escobar, Stephanie and Steven Moore, Richard and Kris Torrez, Robert Torres, Tina Torres and her husband Castulo (Bob) and Reba Escobar

Pallbearers will be David Cacy, Carlos Rodriguez, Dominic Escobar, Craig Castro, Joel Aragon and Donnell Hunter.

He will be deeply missed.

The family would like to thank the staff of Pecos Trail, Gentiva Hospice, ICU at ENMMC, Fresenius Medical Care and Brian of Superior Ambulance Services.

Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

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