Joe Salgado Valdez

JOE SALGADO VALDEZ, Hispanic-Native American, with family from the Pueblo Del Sur Nation, passed away suddenly on his 80th birthday, Sunday, February 14th, 2016 in Odessa, Texas. He was born on February 14th, 1936 in Big Spring Texas to Gilbert Valdez and Adela Salgado. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1954. He married his true love Rosa Sanchez on November 20th, 1970 in Odessa, Texas.

He worked in the retail shoe business until 1975, and worked for the Odessa American in advertising until 1986 when he became a self-employed business owner, and retired in 2004. He was a member of the Odessa Downtown Business Association and the Odessa Downtown Lions Club. He loved cooking, listening to music, playing tricks on people and telling jokes. He was an avid Facebook user, where he enjoyed keeping up with family and friends. His greatest joy was his family, and he devoted his time to playing with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog Chico and bird Bo.

He is preceded in death by both his parents, daughter Rebecca Running Deer Sanchez, and several uncles and aunts. He is survived by his wife, Rosa S. Valdez; brother Raymond Valdez of Las Vegas, NM; sisters Ana Perez and Norma Valdez of El Paso, Texas; sister-in-law Romelia Rayos and brother-in-law Juan R. Sanchez and wife Olga of Odessa, Texas; son Larry Valdez and wife Christine of Lubbock, Texas; daughter Dina Schexnaydre and husband James of Los Angeles, California; daughter Donna Pineda and husband James of Big Spring, Texas; daughter Joely Valdez and husband Will Nichols of Odessa, Texas; thirteen grandchildren, Emily (husband Johnathan Allen), Claire, Alex, Simone, Harper, Kaleb (fiancée Emily Hernandez), Taylor (fiancée Brent Kelly), Jade, Zyden, Ayven, Amy (husband Bill Mihalik), Rachel and Zena; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be greatly missed but will forever be in our hearts. We love you, Joe, Dad and PaPaw.

We, the Sanchez Valdez Family, would like to take this time and express our utmost sincere gratitude to each and everyone of you for all your prayers, floral arrangements, food, offering and especially your presence with us during this most difficult time. May God Bless You All Abundantly. Honorary Pallbearers will be William Nichols, Kaleb Digby, Brent Kelly, Alex Valdez, Richard Sanchez II, and Alex DelaRosa. Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, February 20, 2016, with Reverend Mark Woodruff officiating, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 7601 North Grandview, Odessa, Texas. Interment to be held privately at a later date. A family fellowship will follow at 406 E 38th Street, Odessa Texas.

Services entrusted to Funeral Director Joel Gonzales & The Staff of Odessa Funeral Home

The Family request, That in lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Odessa Humane Society.