Valmore Leite, 96, known to family and friends as “Val” or “Putt”, left this world on January 18, 2021 to join the angels. Above all else, Val was a family man devoted to both his immediate and extended families and beloved by them. He had a carefree, loving spirit and was known for his generosity, whether it was purchasing a house for his parents as a young airman or trading cars with his granddaughter. As a career serviceman, he dedicated 33 years to the Air Force as a proud American. He was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and of NASCAR, and he could repair most anything (but not necessarily by approved standards or methods!). Candidly, it’s a wonder he lived such a long life given the myriad of stories he had to tell—getting washed overboard from an aircraft carrier, igniting a carburetor at his gas station, and driving through a lowered railroad crossing arm, to name a few. You’d have recognized him by his mischievous smile tempered with kindness and love.
Val grew up in a Portuguese community in Goodyear, Connecticut, the youngest of seven children born into the loving family of immigrant parents, Marion and Deolinda Leite, on July 28, 1924. He earned his GED and enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 18. After his first enlistment, Val owned and operated a service station for a couple years before re-enlisting, this time in the newly-created Air Force. While stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, he met June Burttschell to whom he was married for 53 years before her passing in 2004. Val spent remote tours in Korea and Japan during those early years and on Johnston Atoll during a later year. After the birth of their two children, Valorie and David, the family of four lived in Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Germany, and on Guam while Val pursued his Air Force career. He excelled in the maintenance field, eventually becoming utilities superintendent and inspector at various bases, and was among the first in the Air Force to achieve the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant, a rank reserved for no more than 1.25% of the enlisted force.
Val is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Valorie and Scott Carson of Leander; his granddaughter and her husband, Rachel Carson and Andrew Cole of Seattle; his granddaughter and her husband, Rebecca and Nirav Shah of Austin; his great grandchildren, Maya Shah, Niam Shah, and Elliot Cole; as well as, beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, June Leite of Austin; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Deanna Leite of Austin; his parents, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law of Connecticut; and parents-in-law, sisters-in-laws, and brothers-in-law of Texas.
Private family services with military honors are planned due to the current pandemic. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Air Force Aid Society or to the charity of your choice.
Mr. Leite’s service will be live-streamed and you can join services slightly before 3:00 p.m., Tuesday by logging into https://vimeo.com/event/630130.
You may share memories and leave condolences for the family by logging into his site at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.
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