Carlos Valdes

Everything was a blessing to Carlos, a loving and committed husband, father and grandfather who carried his unwavering faith in God and a song in his heart each and every day of his life. Family always came first and he would do whatever it took to take care of them - even if that meant working long hours to support his four kids through Catholic school and college. He was a kind man, who didn't believe in giving up. If he wanted something, he wholeheartedly went for it, a virtue admired and respected by his children. He was also charismatic, always stopping to speak to strangers and never missing an opportunity to say 'God bless you.' Carlos was born to Emilio and Otilia Valdes on Nov. 4, 1927 in San Antonio, Texas where he was the youngest of five children. After losing his mother at age 5 and then his father at age 10, he moved to Mexico where he was raised by his aunt and uncle. During this time, he joined a skating club where he practiced with his faithful companion, a dog named 'Silver.' In 1949, he moved back to the U.S. where he worked as a cook at a prestigious club in Los Angeles called the Jonathan Club. Later, in 1952 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served during the Korean War and was awarded the National Defense Medal.In 1954, Carlos met the love of his life, Lilia Bencomo, while participating in a singles club at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. They were married on Nov. 20, 1955, purchased their home in Norwalk, Calif., and later had four children: Carlos Jr., Henry, Otilia ('Tila') and Elsa.During this time, he worked at various companies eventually landing a job with a plastics bottle manufacturer, Owen Illinois ('OI'), where he later retired. At OI, he received many accolades, including an award of recognition for 25 years of perfect attendance. He spent much of his life dedicated to what he considered his greatest blessing: his family, something he lost at a very young age. He found great joy in his grandchildren Jorge, Natalie, Natasha, Alba and Adam. He never missed a moment to give thanks and show appreciation to God for everything, always saying: 'It's such a blessing.'Though he will be missed beyond words, he was Our Blessing and will continue to live in our hearts. As his family, we will take his love for life, his passion for music and powerful faith in God with us forever.