Robert Valdez

Robert R. "Bob" Valdez passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, July 6, 2017. Bob, or Bobby as he was known to friends and family, was born on December 16, 1934, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Ramon Montes Valdez and Carolina Romero Valdez, who preceded him in death.
Bob served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 - 1955 during the Korean Conflict. He returned to find Mary Ann Galvan, who quickly became the love of his life, working at his parents' restaurant, Valdez Café. Mary was the best friend of Bobby's sister, Fran (Valdez) Nunez, who warned Mary to be careful of Bobby since he thought he was Robert Redford. Mary replied that she was pretty hot herself! Bobby came home from the Navy eager to bestow discipline on his brothers and sisters, so Mary served as the warning sound that they should look busy as Bobby was approaching the restaurant. Bobby and Mary married in October 1957 and celebrated 52 years of marriage before Mary passed in December 2009. (Can you picture the look on their faces as they meet again and she smothers him with kisses all over his face?! Ahhh....true love!)
It was at Thomsen's Furniture Store that Bob's love for furniture grew, along with a life-long love and admiration for his mentor, Albert Thomsen. Mr. Thomsen treated Bob like a son, and Bob followed in his footsteps and opened his own furniture store. He was a serial entrepreneur and went on to open a restaurant with Mary, as well as a pool hall, where tall tales were told and close friendships developed. Bob was known for making people laugh and feel better, even when his perfect poker face won the pot.
Sundays after church usually involved food, fun, football, and cards at the Archuleta, Briseno, Nunez, or Tellez house....UNLESS Dad took off his shoes, which meant we were not going anywhere. Vacation with the Archuletas meant a camping road trip to Six Flags, floating on the Guadalupe River, and visiting New Braunfels.
He loved sitting in his chair each morning and asking Alexa for the temperature before listening to his playlist, which started with "I Can See Clearly Now."
Bob is survived by his brother George and his wife, Rita, and Jimmy and his wife, Loy; sister Flo Valdez; son Tom; and daughters Roberta Valdez and Adriene Gallegos and her husband Erik; grandchildren Charity Czechorski and her husband, Jonathon; Ysai Storms-Valdez and his wife, Allison; and Ysabela, Catalina, and Marco Gallegos; great-grandchildren: Samara, Emery, Tatum, and Alba Zane (soon) Czechorski and Harvey Robert Storms-Valdez; dozens of nieces and nephews who adored their Uncle Bob; along with special friends/family: the entire Frank Archuleta, Sal Briseno, Sal Jaramillo, McKinley, and Sandoval families; and Adan Velasquez.
A very special thank you to Louise, Veronica and Evelyn for taking such loving care of Bobby, and especially to Evelyn for her tireless efforts and devoted attention during his last weeks. Also, thank you to Dr. Araujo and all the Kymera family, especially Debra and Phil. A warm thank you to neighbors Lulu and Jesus Campos, who treated Bobby and Mary as their own parents.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jody, Richard, and Vidal "Lolly;" and sisters Aurelia Gonzales, Mary Tellez, Frances Nunez, Hazel Gomez, and Pristina Valdez.
Pallbearers will be Frank Archuleta, Albert Arias, Mike Briseno, Steve Nunez, Elton Reed, and Ralph Tellez, Jr.
In honor of his very strong love for the Dallas Cowboys, please wear Cowboy colors or attire.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or WoundedWarriorProject.org or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 3 International Drive, Suite 200, Rye Brook, NY 10573 or at lls.org.
Visitation will be held at Ballard Funeral Home on Thursday, July 13, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a Rosary following at St. John's Catholic Church at 7:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, with interment following at South Park Cemetery.

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, July 13, 2017
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Service

Rosary

St. John's Catholic Church
506 S. Lincoln
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, July 13, 2017
7:00 pm

Funeral Mass

St. John's Catholic Church
506 S. Lincoln
Roswell, NM  88203
Friday, July 14, 2017
1:00 pm

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

Wounded Warrior
PO Box 758517
Topeka, KS  66675


The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
3 International Drive, Suite 200
Rye Brook, NY  10573