Gloria Reyna Valadez

Gloria Eugenia Reyna Valadez, 90, sang and danced into God’s Heavenly Kingdom on October 4, 2021 surrounded by her family. Born March 15, 1931 in La Joya, Texas to Gertrudis Cavazos Reyna and Mauro L. Reyna, Sr., she graduated Valedictorian from La Joya High School in 1947 at age 16 and began her lifelong teaching/educator career at 18. During her 62-year career, she taught in several school districts in the Rio Grande Valley until 1970 when she moved to Dallas and became one of the first bilingual curriculum writers at Dallas ISD. Over the next 41 years, she served the students at DISD as a Title I traveling teacher, a PreK/K teacher, and substitute teacher until the age of 80. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pan Am University and a master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Southern Methodist University in 1973. She also worked and retired after 23 years at Neiman-Marcus Northpark Center.

Previously married to Oscar Ruben Valadez, Sr., she is survived by her children Cynthia Imelda Valadez, Oscar Ruben Valadez, Jr., Daniel David Valadez (Laurie), Noel Dennis Valadez, Alex Xavier Valadez (Olga), and Liliana Gloria Valadez (Keith), sister Dalila Reyna Dolenz, 22 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her son Joel (Jay) Rene Valadez, brother Mauro L. Reyna Jr. and sister Minerva Reyna Flores.

On Thursday, October 7, 2021 there will be a visitation with the family from 6-7 p.m. and the Rosary will be recited immediately following at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, 1404 Old Gate Lane, Dallas, TX 75218.

On Friday, October 8, 2021, there will be a visitation from 6-7 p.m. followed by a rosary at Virgil Wilson Funeral Home, 2200 N Conway, Mission, TX 78572. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 620 North Dunlap, Mission, TX 78572 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Interment at Laurel Hills Cemetery in Mission, TX.