Raymond Robert Valdez

Raymond Robert Valdez, affectionately known as Bob or Bobby, of Surprise, Arizona passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on June 16, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born in Douglas, Wyoming on February 27, 1939, to Rosendo Valdez and Elidia Gurule. Bob had six siblings, Michael “Mike,” Maria, Nicolas “Nick,” Victoria, Richard, and Francisco “Cisco.”

Bob graduated from Douglas High School where he was good student and very active in sports, including wrestling, basketball, football, and baseball. He joined the US Army in October 1957 and in three years, while serving as a radio operator and signal lineman, rose the rank of Sergeant and was discharged at Fort Campbell, KY in October 1960.

After re-enlisted January 16,1961, Bob married Dorothy “Dottie” Hicks in Junction City, Kansas on February 7, 1961. They were assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina but after only six months, Bob was assigned to the 503rd Infantry Regiment in Okinawa where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Upon finishing his tour in Okinawa, Bob was assigned back to Fort Bragg, NC. Staff Sergeant Valdez then went to Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK. April 27, 1964, Bob was discharged to accept a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army’s Signal Corps.

After being commissioned, Bob was stationed at Fort Benning, GA with the 122nd Signal Battalion followed by an assignment to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY where he served as a Company Commander in the 501st Signal Battalion. In 1966, he applied for Army flight school. After finishing flight school, he was sent to Vietnam, as an aircraft commander and proficiency check pilot in the 254th Helicopter Medical Detachment (“Dustoff”). During this tour, his unarmed Huey helicopter (“Dustoff 107”) was shot down, but he was able to get it and his entire crew to safety.

At the end of his tour, he went to the Signal Corps Officer Advanced Course at Fort Monmouth, NJ, and fixed wing qualification before being sent back to Vietnam where he served as the operations officer and maintenance officer (Huey gunships) with the 120th Assault Helicopter Company.

Finishing the second tour, Bob and family were assigned to the 34th Signal Battalion in Stuttgart, Germany as S-3 and Executive Officer. From Germany he was assigned back to Fort Bragg as a Training Evaluation Officer in a USAR Readiness Group. Bob was selected for the Army’s “Bootstrap” program where he earned his Bachelor of General Studies, with a concentration in Business, degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1976.

After graduating, Bob was assigned to the United States Forces Command in Seoul, Korea as a staff officer. After the tour in Seoul, Bob was assigned to the 229th Air Assault Battalion, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY serving as the Battalion Executive Officer before retiring December 31, 1978.

Bob’s Army career spanned over 21 years, over six as an enlisted man and over 14 as an officer. He served at all levels including platoon, company, battalion, and joint command headquarters. His awards and decorations for service include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, 28 Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Army Aviator Wings, the Air Assault Badge and numerous other service and campaign over the course of his career.

After retiring, Bob was the Hopkinsville, KY Director of Public Works. He was the Purchasing Manager and Operations Manager for CoPar, Inc, a radiator manufacturing company also located in Hopkinsville. Bob received his Master of Arts degree in Computer Science from Webster University on October 11, 1986.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Nick, and Victoria. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, his daughter Kay and her husband Larry Leighton, and siblings Mike, Maria Sierocki, Richard and his wife Linda, and Cisco and his wife Darlene.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy and Kay request donations be made in memory of Robert Valdez to the American Legion Post 94 in Sun City West where he was member for the last ten years. https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/donate-in-memory-of-robert-bobby-valdez

A visitation will be held at Surprise Funeral Care, Sunset Hall Chapel, located at 16063 W Bell Rd, Surprise, Arizona, 85374, on July 8, 2025, starting at 3:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the same venue on July 9, 2025, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by a catered reception of Hot Breakfast from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

The Committal Service with Military Honors will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 2929 East Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85024, on July 9, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. This will include full Army Military Honors to commemorate the service of Mr. Valdez.