April 7, 1951 – November 24, 2017
Albert A Valencia, 66 years old, passed away in Phoenix, AZ on Friday, November 24, 2017. Albert was born in Douglas, AZ on April 7, 1951 to Emilio and Sara Valencia. He graduated from Douglas High School in 1970 and immediately joined the Navy. He married his high school sweetheart, Rosalinda Salazar, in 1973 and together raised 2 children.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalinda; son Mark (Tony) Valencia, Phoenix, AZ; daughter Sandra (Zack) Valencia-Malay, Avondale, AZ; Grandchildren: Mark A Valencia, Jr. Sienna Valencia, Jasmine Sierra, Rolando Moreno, Damien Moreno, Alyssa Moreno, Angelina Moreno and Kaylee Malay. Also surviving are his brothers, Emilio (Rametl) Valencia, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua and Carlos (Olivia) Valencia, Tucson, AZ. Sisters: Alice (Armando) Flores, Safford, AZ, Mary (Adalberto) Bernal, Tucson, AZ, Ana (Howard) Howard, Tucson, AZ, Esperanza Valencia, El Cajon, CA five great-great children and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emilio and Sara Valencia, brother Antonio (Kika) Valencia, sisters Celina V Estrada and Monica Montes de Oca, In-laws Henry and Francisca Salazar and sister-in-law Lourdes Salazar.
While the family lived in Douglas, Albert was employed by Woods Shirt Manufacturing Company and Pizza Hut. The family relocated to Phoenix, AZ and he became employed by Redburn Tire Company as a warehouse manager. In 1996 he fulfilled his dream of becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor while employed by Chicanos por la Causa and in 2001 opened his counseling agency, New Direction, L.L.C. He provided group sessions and one-on-one counseling in the areas of substance abuse, domestic violence and anger management to clients referred by Maricopa County Adult Probation and surrounding City Governments.
Albert was a wonderful husband, loving father and doting grandfather. He was a good son, brother, uncle and a good friend to many. He shared with many the love he had for his wife and how lucky he was to have had her in his life. He will be sorely missed. May he rest in Peace.
Viewing will be Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 4PM to 8PM at
Crystal Rose Funeral Home
9155 West Van Buren Street
Tolleson, AZ 85355
(623) 936-3637
Funeral Mass on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 11AM at
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
512 N 9rd Ave
Tolleson, AZ 85353
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