Vicente Mora Valls

Dr. Vicente Mora Valls, formerly of Cumberland, Maryland, passed away on 3 April 2019 surrounded by his loving family. Vicente looked forward to going home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to being reunited with his adored wife, Elena. Vicente was a brilliant, gentle, kind, and loving man with an amazing sense of humor, which he kept until the very end.

Vicente was born on 10 May 1925 in Parcent, Alicante, Spain to Vicente Valls Ripoll and Consuelo Mora Pons Valls. He and his family survived the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, after which he attended and graduated from the University of Valencia Medical School in Valencia, Spain. He arrived in New York City in 1953, realizing his dream of emigrating to the United States. Vicente did his residency at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York City. Vicente eventually settled in Cumberland, Maryland, where he opened a private practice and was on staff at both Sacred Heart Hospital and Memorial Hospital. A gifted physician, surgeon, and diagnostician, he was the recipient of many awards and commendations, including Doctor of the Year. After retiring, Vicente continued his study of medicine, retaining his license for another 25 years. He also passionately pursued the art of painting in watercolor. He achieved great success and became quite well known in Cumberland art circles, winning numerous prizes.

Vicente married the love of his life, Elena Riera, on 6 February 1954 in New York City, and they treasured almost 64 years of married life. Together they had five children, raising them with an appreciation of all God's blessings, and the sanctity of family. There is nothing Vicente enjoyed more than being with his children, telling them anecdotes about their childhood and stories about his own youth in Spain. He was an intellect and a voracious reader who had the uncanny ability of remembering everything he ever read. He loved studying and his curiosity of mind meant that he was always learning something new.

Vicente loved The Lord with all his heart and soul and served Him faithfully, living out that faith in everything he did. He was a loving husband and father, an active member of his church, St. Patrick's, and a dedicated and compassionate physician who was totally committed to his patients, many of whom still remembered his kindnesses and attentiveness decades after his retirement.

Vicente is survived by his children: Connie (Dave) Valls Gerhardt, Rosey (Tom) Valls Gerhardt, Maria (Joel) Valls Link, Elena (Greg) Valls Hollern, and Jose Vicente (Gloria) Valls; grandchildren, Jonathan, Jeremy, and Joseph Jones, Rachel (Eric) Koenig, Jessica (Chris) Rexer, Elena, Alex, and Joel Link, Alexandra (Blake) Hollern-Sheridan, Isa, and Cristina Hollern, and Abigail and Andrea Valls; great grandchildren Mason and Olivia Koenig and Jack and Cruz Rexer; sister-in-law Josephine Riera Gonzalez, nephew Basilio Gonzalez, nieces Elenita Irwin, Yvonne Moyer, and Annette Swad, and many friends and family both here in the United States and in Spain. Vicente was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Elena Riera Valls, parents, Vicente and Consuelo Valls, brother Eugenio Valls Mora, father-in-law Jose Riera Torres, son-in-law Donald Jones, and brother-in-law Basilio Gonzalez Moncayo.

Family and friends will be received at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230, on Saturday, 20 April 2019 at 1pm. A Memorial Service will follow at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Vicente's name may be made to the Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Rd. SE, Newark, OH 43055.