Joe Alcario Valdez, Jr.

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Joe Alcario Valdez Jr.

October 2, 1946 ~ April 16, 2019

Joe Alcario Valdez, Jr., 72, passed away on April 16, 2019 due to complications from COPD, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born October 2, 1946 in Alamogordo, New Mexico to Joe A. Valdez Sr. and Teresa Sandoval. Because of the tragic, untimely death of his mother when he was a child and his father’s military obligations, Joe was brought up by his grandparents, Casimiro Sr. and Josefina Valdez, in Chama, New Mexico, then later made Utah his home. Joe joined the U.S. Army in 1963 and served in the Special Forces and Airborne.

Among his many tours of distinguished service, he served several tours in Vietnam and Europe. He worked at the recruiting station, at Hill Air Force Base, and National Guard at Camp Williams in Utah. A lifelong passion of his was skydiving, and he would go jump whenever he could with whomever wanted to join him, and took pride in being a master parachute rigger, packer, inspector and jumper. After a 32-year career, he retired with the rank of first sergeant, and among his decorations, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifices.

He married Yolanda Pacheco in 1971 with whom he had two children, Corrina Denise Valdez Duran and Steven Eli Valdez. Joe was an avid collector of cars and enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. He quite possibly owned every type of car ever made, including a red DeLorean, and showed them off at car shows on the weekends with his kids. Joe always took pride in his home and his yard, and he could fix just about anything. But above all, he loved his family and spending time with them.

He is survived by his (ex) wife Yolanda; daughter Corrina; son Steven; grandchildren Joey, Tierra, Santana, and Steven Jr.; aunts Ramona Lopez, Dora Grebisz, Maria Schweska; brother Eugene (Carol) Valdez; and sister Rosie (Ross) Bell.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Casimiro Sr. and Josefina Valdez; parents Joe A. Sr. and Teresa Valdez; uncles Casimiro (Ignacia) Valdez, Benito (Ingeborg) Valdez; and in-laws Eli and Bertha Pacheco.

 A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church in Midvale. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Funeral arrangements provided by Neil O’Donnell & Sons Mortuary.

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

Online condolences may be given at www.odonnellandsons.com.