Anselmo O. Valdez

Anselmo Ortiz Valdez, born April 21, 1916 in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001. Son of Pedro Valdes and Francisca Ortiz. With his family he immigrated to the US in 1917 and grew to become a responsible and worthy citizen and a quiet resolute man of God. He was thoroughly dedicated to his wife of 62 years, Guadalupe Jimenez Valdez. Anselmo demonstrated a tremendous desire to learn, to grow and to be accountable to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Anselmo was a reserved and purposely unimposing man, however in his last days he made it perfectly clear that Jesus Christ had become his most cherished companion. In outward appearance his life was a continual series of compromises and sacrifices for his children and grandchildren. Inside Anselmo continually measure himself against God's will. In his last weeks not a sentence was breathed by him that did not refer to his love for Jesus.

Apart from his beautiful wife, Anselmo leaves his children Edward, Gloria, Juan and Carlos. We all rejoice anticipating his reunion with his deceased son Alonzo. Also remaining is his sister Juanita Flores. We expect that he finds awaiting him in glory his brothers Hipolito, Juan, and Maximo as well as sister Andrea, and half-sister Eva Arellano. His legacy includes 48 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Anselmo joined the Army in 1943. Honorably discharged in 1945 he applied his GI Bill to attend radio repair school. In 1947 he and his family moved to Saginaw, Michigan where he worked for General Motors. In 1950 he joined the US Army Signal Corps and tested and installed a variety of electronic equipment. He was there until 1957 when he was hired by the Department of Commerce Civil Aeronautics Administration continuing in electronics as a maintenance technician. However, because of family concerns he had to leave that position. For nine months, he toiled as a general plant maintenance worker for Campbell Soup Company. Through a series of dogged endeavors Anselmo was able to continue to apply his electronics training and eventually retired as a GS-14, Captain equivalent from Kelly AFB, where he had been testing newly-delivered radar and related equipment for performance compliance.

He once wrote in an employment application, "I have attended an untold number of seminars, lectures, conferences, orientations, training sessions, etc., etc., all primarily designed to prepare the individual to function better in our society." This is true. Anselmo never quit educating himself. Though he spoke and wrote perfectly in Spanish, he was able to complete the New York Time Sunday crossword puzzle. In his search for spiritual fulfillment he left the Catholic denomination, dedicated himself for 15 years to the Episcopal Church and eventually discovered his spiritual home in the Baptist community.

Anselmo contributed time and wisdom to a variety of organizations. He became a member of the Mexican-American Commission on Hispanic Affairs of the Episcopal Church, attending conferences at Harvard University. He was a member of the Executive Board of the Diocese of West Texas. He was also a member of the Bishops Committee of the Episcopal Church and a Lay Reader in his house of worship.

He has been a member of the United Auto Workers-CIO, the Teamsters Union, the Hod Carriers Union a labor group, the Community Action Council west side barrio betterment, Airways Engineering Society, Union Obrero El Nogal west side labor group, Union Fraternal Latino Americano, the American GI Forum, the Columbia Junior League and Palm Heights Men's Club youth sports organizations, the Service, Employment & Redevelopment SERfor Hispanic employment, a federally funded agency, board member of the Community Guidance Center mental health and social services, and board member of the Good Samaritan Center. This "membership" history is not complete, but completed in no measure would describe the man. His achievement was that he gave up the world so to preserve his soul.

Most remarkably Anselmo is best known by those he met at his beloved church. He rose at 5:30 am every morning for the last twelve years to meet his spiritual brothers for prayer at Theo Avenue Baptist Church. That is until he simply could not draw the strength. He is best known by those whom he gave money or counsel to but were unable to repay. Anselmo would not ask for repayment. He is best known by those who wounded him. These numerous person he forgave. He is best known by the quality of his gifts, items skillfully made by his own hands. Some fathers give heirloom watches or stacks of money, or perhaps sad stories of demons and defeat, but this father made and gave a ladder. Except for cutting the timber in the forest he made every brace and bracket and hinge. With a saw, a hammer, a vice and some scraps of metal, he was telling anyone who cared that they could climb higher. Anselmo was about forgiveness, love and restoration. Anselmo Ortiz Valdez wanted everyone to know that they could climb to utter glory if they had a repentant heart and a desire to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. His heart plowed deep the soil of salvation and reaped the glory of Jesus' loving embrace. His wife and children will miss him, as well as many, many others but his memory will serve as a legacy for many generations. Hallelujah! Praise God!