Dr. Larry Alfonso Valero, DDS

Papa passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long illness. He left us while at home with Grammy at his side. There is no place he loved more than being at home with her. Papa was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. Family meant everything to him. Papa married the love of his life Mary Armas in 1964. They were wed for nearly 48 wonderful years until Papa's recent passing. They were absolutely devoted to each other in both sickness and in health and in good times and in difficult times. He credited all his joys and successes in life to her unwavering support and love. Papa was born in Fresno, California to his loving parents Rose and Larry Valero who provided him with a very happy childhood. He was known affectionately as "Champ" growing up in Woodlake, Indio, and eventually Delano. As a boy, he liked to shoot rifles, build model planes, and came to love music. He enjoyed sports and played football, basketball, and baseball as a young man, and racquetball for many years as an adult. He was an avid, life-long San Francisco Giants and 49ers fan. Papa was always a talented and hard working student. He graduated from Delano High School in 1961 and attended Bakersfield College. He then earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Idaho State University in 1968 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific in 1974. Papa was a pillar of the community and was actively involved in a variety of local civic groups and professional organizations throughout his long dental career. He was always proud to call Bakersfield his hometown. He had a positive influence on all he came into contact with both professionally and personally. Papa was always willing to extend a helping hand to students, colleagues, friends, acquaintances, and family. He treated all he encountered with fairness, courtesy, and respect. The strongest code of ethics and responsibility governed everything he did. Papa was a vociferous opponent of smoking and the use of chewing tobacco among Kern County's youth. He spent many years speaking at local schools educating young people about the dangers of tobacco products and their direct link to oral cancer. Likewise, Papa was always engaged in outreach efforts with the Hispanic community-promoting good oral hygiene and increasing awareness about tobacco usage and oral cancer on local Spanish language television and radio. Next to his family, Papa was most dedicated to his patients. He spent much of his 35 year dental career providing quality and affordable dental care in a hospital setting for adults and children with special needs, especially the developmentally challenged. Papa recognized very early in his career the dire necessity to provide hospital dentistry to those with special needs in the southern San Joaquin Valley. It was simply a critical quality of life issue for all of his special patients. Papa loved his special patients treating them with extreme tenderness and kindness. As a result, his special patients and their families loved their "special" dentist. Papa is survived by his loving wife Mary Valero of Bakersfield and his youngest son David Valero of Bakersfield. He is also survived by his eldest son Larry Andrew Valero and his wife Sydney Valero of El Paso, Texas and his grandchildren Hannah Valero and Abraham Valero. Papa is survived by his younger sister Yolanda Smith and her husband Denny Smith of Phoenix, Arizona. Papa is also survived by his nephews Michael Pantoja of Phoenix, Arizona and Andrew Valero of Bakersfield. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Olivia Lemus and her husband Ricardo Lemus of Huntington Beach, California and his devoted mother-in-law Rita Armas of Bakersfield. Papa is also survived by many cousins and wonderful friends throughout California and beyond. Papa's family and friends will miss his gentle presence, sense of humor, and steadfast love. We celebrate Papa's life of genuine purpose, integrity, and commitment. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 am on Monday, November 7th, at Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road in Bakersfield. The Valero Family would like to thank ProCare Hospice of Bakersfield for their outstanding support and sensitive care for our Papa. We would also like to extend our sincerest appreciation to Dr. Anthony Valdez for his great care and treatment of Papa over the years.

Arrangements under the direction of Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, Bakersfield, CA.