Christopher R. Valdez

Passed Away on November 25, 2019

Christopher R. Valdez, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on November 25, 2019 at the age of 48. He was born in Morenci, Arizona, on December 12, 1970. Chris is survived by his parents, Ruben L. and Florence B. Valdez, formerly of Morenci, Arizona, now in Mesa; his six children: Christopher Michael, Jacob Destin, Serenah Ann, Caleb Andrew, Brianna Renee, and Mariah Christina; and his sister and brother-in-law, Suzanne Valdez and Stephen McAllister of Lawrence, Kansas. Chris is also survived by a large extended family across Arizona and elsewhere.

At a young age, Chris had a strong sense of duty and an even stronger love for his country. As soon as Chris turned 18 years old, he enlisted in the United States Army as a heavy-wheeled mechanic. Chris reported for duty in August of 1989. He graduated basic training and reported to Ft. Bragg, NC where he earned his wings and was a proud paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1990 Chris answered the call to duty and deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm where he served with distinction and honor. Chris completed his tour of duty and returned home in 1991. He was honorably discharged on September 2, 1992, having fulfilled his obligation to the U.S. Army. Chris’s awards include an Army Commendation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the parachutist badge. Though Chris’s active duty in the army was done, he continued to have a strong love for his country as a proud Veteran.

After his discharge from the Army, Chris began his long and distinguished career as a certified electrician, where he used his talent and skills to install and maintain electrical and power systems in businesses and homes across the Phoenix Metro Valley and Southwest. His peers in the field have described Chris as one of the “most talented electricians in the Valley” and as the electrician who could “trouble shoot” and “fix” anything that had to do with electricity.

Chris loved his children and both his close and extended family deeply. He loved his work as an electrician, especially solving problems and figuring out electrical formulas on graph paper and note cards in advance of tackling a job. He loved his white work truck. He loved to make people laugh, and he loved to fish in the White Mountains of Arizona and Alpine. He loved the Arizona Cardinals football team. And he loved America.

Catholic mass services with military funeral honors for Chris are pending.