Octaviano Valdez

Octaviano A. Valdez, 86, of Penasco was called home to our Heavenly Father on Friday, January 20, 2023, with his children by his side.  He was born on January 7, 1937, in Embudo, NM to the late Benito and Maria Valdez.  He spent his early life in the Vadito area growing up with 6 sisters and 6 brothers at the family property.  In 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Elvia Lucero.  Octaviano enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954.  He proudly served for 22 years achieving the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.  As part of his service, CMSGT Valdez was involved with communication translations during the Cuban Missile Crisis and worked at the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs.  During his 22 years of service, he received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award.  He retired from the USAF in 1976.  He then obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Colorado State University in Colorado Springs in 1980.  He engaged in his second career at Cibar Inc. before returning to Penasco in 1981 and continuing his Computer Programming career with the State of New Mexico Department of Transportation- Office of General Counsel.  He retired from the State of NM in 1997.  While in Penasco, he served on the Penasco School Board and was a member of the San Antonio de Padua Catholic Parish.  In his spare time throughout his life, he enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, traveling, helping community members in numerous ways, and in his later years, he enjoyed the local Northern New Mexico casinos.  Throughout his life, he was especially supportive of his 10 children and grandchildren always offering knowledgeable advice on how to better their lives for the future.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elvia (2009); sons Derwin Valdez (2010) and Edwin Valdez (2010), grandchildren Ciara Barela (2011), Destiny Valdez (2017), and daughter Yvonne Arellano (2018), in addition to his parents and 12 siblings.

He is survived by his children Rita Valdez, Gloria Valdez, Joey Valdez, Rudy Valdez, Valerie Valdez, Derrick Valdez (Vickey), Melissa Valdez-Lopez (Joseph), son in law, Nelson Arellano,  29 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter, many nieces and nephews, and close friends, Louis Sanchez, Melvin Roybal, Lorraine Gallegos (niece), Stella Padilla and Joann and Dave Legler.   We will surely miss him but are comforted with the many memories and the thought of him being reunited in heaven with his wife, parents, and siblings.

Rosary will be recited on Thursday, February 02, 2023 at 11 AM with funeral mass to follow at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco.  Interment will be held on Friday, February 03, 2023 at 10 AM at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com