Richard Valentine

Our Richard, son of  Archie and Ethel Roberts  Valentine, passed into the hands of God on April 18,  2019 after a brave fight with lymphoma.  We are grateful that he spent  most of his life doing exactly what he wanted, which was a great deal.  His was a life well-lived. As a young man, he enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard the USS Okanogan during the Vietnam conflict.  During his Navy years, he had the opportunity  to visit many places around the world and used this time as a grand tour.  He saw a lot that many of us never will.  He was a championship bowler and ace boat maker .  He made his own bows and was an accomplished archer as well as archery teacher.  A great dancer, Richard also played the harmonica often to our delight.  He loomed large in our lives.  Richard was an avid fisherman and hunter  as well as an expert woodworker, for which he will always be admired.  He could make or fix almost anything and developed one of these skills into a career as a plumber.   His retirement in Eugene, Oregon found him indulging in all his hobbies and discovering new ones.  Val continued to form close friendships during his retirement, and these meant a lot to him.   He was predeceased by his wife Christina  in 2002 and is survived by his three daughters, Julie Valentine-Barrow (Aaron Barrow ), Lorraine Valentine , Carrie Valentine and grandchildren Christopher Collins, Kia Givan, Jordan Hicks , Asher Valentine Barrow,and Andrew Barrow.  Dick is also survived by his wife Gretchen and his sister Carol Feitshans of Lockport, NY.  His niece Rebecca and grand nephews Rowan and Jubal loved and admired  their uncle Dick and will feel his absence acutely.  He had so many friends made during all parts of his life and  was happy to keep in touch with them.  He was “closest friend”  to several of these.  We will all miss him greatly.