Harold E. Valencia Passed peacefully on March 6, 2009. Born December 27, 1932, to Ramon and Stella Valencia in El Rancho, he resided in his beloved El Rancho and in Santa Fe most of his life. He was a generous and caring son, brother, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was preceded in death by his father Ramon; infant siblings, Ramon and Erlinda; siblings, Philly Joe Valencia and Ida A. Ortiz; and Ida's husband Thomas Z. Ortiz. He was also preceded in death by son-in-law, Robert G. Reed. He is survived by his mother, Stella; his wife, Betty Rivera Valencia; son, Harold Valencia and his wife Loretta and their sons, Phillip and Marcus; daughter, Regina Valencia and her husband Doug Egli and their children, Katharine and Michael; and daughter Marguerite Valencia-Reed and her daughters, Elizabeth and Amy. He is also survived by siblings: Flavio Valencia (wife Pita), Fernando Valencia (wife Araceli), Yolanda Apodaca (husband Reuben) and Dolores Valencia Tanno; as well as by many relatives in the extended Valencia and Rivera families. He graduated from Pojoaque High School and holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the College of Santa Fe. He served in the United States Army with the Corps of Engineers from 1954 to 1956. He also attended the National Defense University War College in Washington, D.C. and the Federal Executive Institute. He was a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service and a former member of the College of Santa Fe Board of Trustees and New Mexico Independent College Fund. His career was one of civil service having served in administrative positions in city, state, and federal governments. He culminated his career as Area Manager for Operations for the Department of Energy in Los Alamos, New Mexico and retired in 1989. He was an active member of the St. Francis Cathedral for 48 years. A Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 from 9- 9:45 a.m. at St. Francis Cathedral, followed by Mass at 10 a.m. Internment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice in Harold's name. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600
Published in the Santa Fe New Mexican on 3/10/2009