Arthur L. Valdez
June 28, 1921 — June 8, 2008
Arthur L. Valdez, 86, of Las Cruces, died Sunday, June 8, 2008. He was born June 28, 1921 in Raton, NM to Alejandro and Francisca Vigil Valdez. He had attended the Raton Public Schools in 1940 and 1941 and went on to attend New Mexico State University and Carleton college in Northfield, Minn. He was a veteran of the US Army where he served his country honorably in the Rainbow Divisi...
Arthur L. Valdez, 86, of Las Cruces, died Sunday, June 8, 2008. He was born June 28, 1921 in Raton, NM to Alejandro and Francisca Vigil Valdez. He had attended the Raton Public Schools in 1940 and 1941 and went on to attend New Mexico State University and Carleton college in Northfield, Minn. He was a veteran of the US Army where he served his country honorably in the Rainbow Division in Europe during World War II. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW for about four months. During this time he was repeatedly questioned about Los Alamos and the atomic bomb due to him being from New Mexico. SSG Valdez was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars as well as many others. After the war, Mr. Valdez attended the University of New Mexico, graduating in 1947 with a degree of bachelor of business administration with a major in accounting. He worked as an accountant and auditor for the Atomic Energy Commission at Los Alamos until 1948, when he transferred to the office of U.S. Internal Revenue at Albuquerque. In 1949, he was assigned to the Las Cruces office as an examiner. He was senior agent and administrative officer in charge of the Las Cruces office when he resigned in 1958 to go into the public accounting business. Mr. Valdez's office was located at 315 N. Water Street, the old Coca-Cola Building for many years. Mr. Valdez was a member of t...
Arthur L. Valdez, 86, of Las Cruces, died Sunday, June 8, 2008. He was born June 28, 1921 in Raton, NM to Alejandro and Francisca Vigil Valdez. He had attended the Raton Public Schools in 1940 and 1941 and went on to attend New Mexico State University and Carleton college in Northfield, Minn. He was a veteran of the US Army where he served his country honorably in the Rainbow Division in Europe during World War II. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW for about four months. During this time he was repeatedly questioned about Los Alamos and the atomic bomb due to him being from New Mexico. SSG Valdez was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars as well as many others. After the war, Mr. Valdez attended the University of New Mexico, graduating in 1947 with a degree of bachelor of business administration with a major in accounting. He worked as an accountant and auditor for the Atomic Energy Commission at Los Alamos until 1948, when he transferred to the office of U.S. Internal Revenue at Albuquerque. In 1949, he was assigned to the Las Cruces office as an examiner. He was senior agent and administrative officer in charge of the Las Cruces office when he resigned in 1958 to go into the public accounting business. Mr. Valdez's office was located at 315 N. Water Street, the old Coca-Cola Building for many years. Mr. Valdez was a member of the National Society of Public Accountants a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and the Church Parish Committee. He is a former Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a former member of the Twenty-Thirty Club. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Carmen F. Valdez of the family home; their two sons, Arthur L. Valdez II and his good close friend Maureen Quin Hallock both of Las Cruces, NM and Phillip A. Valdez and his good friend and partner David Spradley of San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by two grandchildren Arthur III and Amelia, Many Nieces and Nephews. Mr. Valdez was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. A visitation will be held Friday June 13, 2008 from 5-7 PM with a prayer vigil to follow at 7 PM at the Getz Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral mass will be given at 10 AM Saturday June 14, 2008 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral. The rite of committal will follow at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Officiating will be Ricardo Ramirez, C.S.B., D.D. Bishop of Las Cruces. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Jardin de los Ninos Mailing Address 1300-G El Paseo, PMB 272 Las Cruces, NM 88001 PDF Printable Version
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