Elias Valdez

Pastor Elias Valdez, age 76 of Velarde, went to his eternal rest on Friday March 16, 2012. He was born to the union of Manuel and Delidia Valdez in Velarde in 1935. He was a veteran of The United States Army, and worked as a heavy equipment operator for Jack Adams Construction and Paul Parker Construction, in Los Alamos. He dedicated his life to bringing the word of God to his church family as a pastor at The Apostolic Church of Christ in Velarde, and also in a religious radio program on KDCE radio for well over 30 years. He touched many lives through his outreach, and took great pleasure in helping to bring friends & family to the Lord. Pastor Valdez was preceded in death by Paternal Grandparents Elias Valdez & Cirilia Roybal-Valdez, Maternal grandparents Melquides Esquibel & Teodocia Gutierrez-Esquibel, parents Manuel Valdez and Delidia Esquibel-Valdez, son Gilbert M. Valdez, sisters Bertha Esquibel and Susie Martinez, and nephew Aaron L. Martinez. He is survived by children: Kenneth Valdez and companion Veronica Martinez of Rio Chama, Kathleen Maestas and husband Randy of Alcalde, Urias Valdez of Velarde and Carmen E. Valdez of Albuquerque. His siblings include: Manuel Valdez of Fairview, Robert Valdez and wife Ernestine of La Mesilla, Levi Valdez and wife Angie of Velarde, Alice Martinez of Velarde, Betty Duran and husband Tomas of Pueblo, CO., and Evila Rivera and companion 'Pula Martinez of Albuquerque, grandchildren; Andrea, Isaiah, Kasey Anne, Joel, Randy Jr., Anthony, Marlene, Miquela, Gilbert Jr., Ray, Jordan, Steven and Gilbert, great-grandchildren; Jeslyn, Jennifer, Kasen, Zamara, Breanna, Neveah and Zoe, as well as other relatives and many friends. An evening Devotional Service will be held on Sunday March, 18th at 5:30 p.m. at the Rivera Funeral Home Chapel in Espanola. The funeral service will be on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. also at Rivera Funeral Home in Espanola, with interment to follow at The Apostolic of Jesus Christ Cemetery in Velarde, with the following serving as pallbearers: Anthony R. Valdez, Donald Valdez, Levi Valdez Jr. Ray Arrieta, Anthony Valdez and Joel Montoya, and honorary pallbearers being his grandchildren, J.R. Duran, and also his church family. Rivera Family Funeral Home of Espanola.