Shirley Valdez Service Details - Oak Harbor, Washington | Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home

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Shirley Jean
Valdez

August 21, 1927 – November 6, 2018

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Shirley Valdez
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Obituary for Shirley Jean Valdez

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The Life of Shirley Valdez

Shirley Jean Valdez of Oak Harbor, Washington passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of November 6, 2018 at HomePlace with husband of 67 years, Val, at her side, her only son Robert and his longtime partner Toni Sisneros.

Shirley Jean Valdez was born on August 21, 1927 in a small town of Ironton, Ohio right along the Ohio River to John and Jessie Booth. Her mother Jessie was a “stay at home” mom. Shirley’s dad worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. She had one sister, Lois, who was 3 and half years older and preceded her in death.

Shirley lived through the Great Depression when so many people were out of work. She saw a lot of changes. In those days no one had a refrigerator, they had ice boxes and ice was delivered by horse and wagon. Milk and eggs were delivered the same way.

In High School she was a member of the National Honor Society. After school she worked at various jobs in Ohio, but as she neared 21, she told her herself she needed to try something new, so she decided to join the Navy, which led to a happy chain of events. Upon completing boot camp she was assigned to a Training Center in San Diego. It was there that she met Val, who checked her in to the Division and whom would later become her husband.

After about a year dating, they got married in Yuma, Arizona. After she was discharged, she was later able to join her husband in Iwakuni, Japan where was stationed. They lived in Japan for two years before the Navy sent them back to San Diego. Before checking in at San Diego they went to Oklahoma to visit family. While there they adopted Bob, who was 22 months old at the time and the son of one of Val’s sisters, Delpha. She said Bob was the “love of her life.”

In 1957 the Navy moved them again and they put down stakes in Oak Harbor, where and stayed until 1969 when the Navy sent the family to Kingsville, Texas. In Kingsville, Shirley worked at the Navy Exchange buying clothes, shoes and other items for the store. After two years in Kingsville, the family returned to Oak Harbor where she later became the buyer for five Navy Exchanges. Oak Harbor became their permanent home.

Shirley was happiest in the outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, picking mushrooms and just enjoying nature. Every spring She and Val would pack up their travel trailer and drive across the state to Little Diamond Lake near Spokane to fish. They never came away empty handed. They also made annual trips over the Cascade Highway to Wenatchee to pick all kinds of fruit which she always shared with the neighbors. Shirley canned, loved to cook, made amazing biscuits and her yummy jellies went across the U.S to friends and family.

She always had a book to read and especially liked romance novels. She loved to write letters and embraced computers and email until her failing vision made it too difficult.

Her later years were challenging as she struggled with poor vision, hearing and dementia. Despite this she never complained.

Shirley spent a short time at HomePlace Memory Care in Oak Harbor, where she was treated with respect and kindness from the staff and management.

She was the kindest person who wouldn’t hesitate to help those less fortunate. She lived a full and truly amazing life and will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life will take place November 17 at Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor at 1811 NE 16th Avenue at 11 a.m. Friends and family are invited to view photos, share memories, and hear a brief service.

The Valdez Family suggests donations, in Shirley's name, can be made to the Help House in Oak Harbor, which provides assistance to those in need in our community, or your choice supporting dementia research.

To send flowers to the family of Shirley Jean Valdez, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Service Information

When
Saturday, November 17th, 2018 11:00am
Location
Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home
Address
1811 NE 16th Ave
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
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