Israel Valdez USAF Maj. Sr. Ret.

He was a veteran of WWII and served actively during the Korean conflict. Before WWII, he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps where he worked to build many national parks in New Mexico.

He graduated from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX, received his MBA from the University of New Mexico and was also a graduate of the Washington Bible College.

He retired from the Air Force in 1967 and was appointed to the Small Business Administration by President Nixon. He continued to work for the Federal Government until 1986 when he retired from the Department of Transportation.

While in the DC area he was a lay pastor and participated in starting the first Hispanic Prayer Breakfast which met in the US Capitol Bldg.

He and his wife, Alicia moved to San Antonio in 1989 where he became a Master Gardener and helped plant hundreds of trees with at risk teens. He also volunteered to teach immigrants English and worked as a volunteer at the Wellness Clinic at Lackland AFB. He was a member of VFW Post 9186.

Mr. Valdez is to be honored posthumously as an ordained minister.

He is survived by his wife, Alicia Valdez of San Antonio, TX; his son Israel Valdez, Jr. and wife Trudy Frederick Valdez of Port Orchard, WA; son David Valdez and wife Sarah Jane Valdez of Annapolis, MD; grandson, Seth Frederick Valdez of Seattle, WA; granddaughter, Reagan Borden Johnson of Port Orchard, WA; great granddaughters, Rebecca and Emma Johnson and great grandson, Elijah Johnson of Port Orchard, WA; brothers, Guadalupe Valdez, Jr of Corpus Christi, TX and Nicholas Valdez of Kingsville, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Home Front, Texas Chapter, 17305 Hwy 35 N, Schertz, TX 78154.