Hugh Bernard Vallely

Hugh B. Vallely died early Thursday morning in his home, suddenly, but not unexpectedly on June 15, 2023. He was born on May 31, 1925 in Pratt City, now a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama and was the oldest son of Hugh Aloysius and Jeanette Steele Vallely.

Hugh graduated proudly from Auburn University with an electrical engineering degree. He was the first of his family to receive a college education. Following graduation Hugh married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Betty Jean Merrill. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary three weeks before his death.

Hugh’s professional career includes several years working for the Marshall Flight Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, now known as NASA. He was extremely proud of the fact that some of the technology developed with his team was used on the vehicle that landed the first men on the moon. Hugh went on to work for IBM for 25 years beginning in Huntsville and eventually landing him and his family in Austin, Texas. He was fond of saying “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could." He retired in 1990 after a long and successful career to chase after all his grandchildren, whom he adored.

Our father was a man of great character and dignity. He loved his God, his family and his country (and dogs and horses) above all else. When life’s difficulties came, our dad stepped to the front of line to help us, no questions asked. His voice was quiet yet firm, his humor dry and clever and his heart as big as the Texas sky he loved.

Surviving in addition to his wife Betty (Merrill) Vallely are his daughters, Susan Vallely Doyle, Lee Vallely, Anne Vallely Vise and her husband Jeff Vise, Elizabeth Vallely Snow Richmond; his seven grandchildren Ryan, Matthew and Jordan Vise, Josh Vallely, Sydney (Snow) McKelvey, Morgan and Joey Richmond; his 10 great- grandchildren (eight here and two on the way) and his brother Pat Vallely and his wife Sandra.

A service of remembrance and celebration of Hugh's remarkable life will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, 78750.

Memorials may be directed to the following organizations in Hugh's name.

The Alzheimer's Association at

www.act.alz.org

or

Hospice Foundation of America

www.hospicefoundation.org