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VALENTINE JOSEPH ORTEGA
February 14, 1952 ~ April 2, 2011
"Valentine loved life, his mother and father,
animals and making people laugh."
Valentine Joseph Ortega of Vancouver, WA, passed away on April 2, 2011. He was born in Vancouver to Novar and Fidelia Ortega. He attended Fort Vancouver High School before serving in the U.S. Army for eight years.
He enjoyed fishing, playing the drums, and restoring classic cars.
Valentine is survived by his mother, Fidelia; siblings, Ross Ortega, Vincent Ortega and Geneva Marxer; daughters, Traci Sprecher (Dean) and Shisha Lee (Jeff); son, Eric Ortega (Merchon); and his grandchildren, Austin and Asley, Jordon, Lilly, Isabella and Alivia.
He was preceded in death by his father, Novar Sr.; sisters, Vikki Hill and Virgie Weber; and brother, Novar Ortega, Jr..
Special thanks to his family who always loved him.
A viewing will be on Fri., April 8, 2011, 10:00-10:45 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes, Mass at 11:00 a.m. with a reception at 12:00. Graveside service will be at 1:15 p.m. at Mother Joseph Cemetery.
Please sign Valentine's guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
I had the pleasure of listening to Val when he and some friends used to play at his home near ours. Also I enjoyed watching his homing pigeons when he let them out to exercise and they flew around his parents house. My parents lived a block away between Grant and Harney on 36th st. His family will be in our prayers. The Groce Family
Sheila Anselm
April 21, 2011
Dearest Ortega family,
I had the pleasure of meeting Val, years ago, with Seth & his daughters while visiting their Grandma Ortega. As many have stated, he had a very gentle presence. He now has no more pain,worry or problems! I will be praying for the family. God bless each of you.
Lisa Rankin-Faircloth
April 14, 2011
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Trevor Hawkins
April 14, 2011
Dear Val, You were a very Gentle Soul, even when you were mad at us. I had a dream of you sitting at the banqueting table and you were looking to the right and to the left as if you had just arrived in Heaven and were very curious about it all. Love you Val, Your big sister, Genie
Genie Marxer
April 13, 2011
Dear Val,
You were a very Gentle Soul...and were very sweet,even when you were mad at us. I have had a dream of you sitting at the banqueting table up in heaven just looking to the right and to the left like you had just arrived and were curious to what was happening.
Love you Val. Your Sister Genie
Genie Marxer/Ortega
April 13, 2011
I'm so sorry, I just heard about Val's passing. I hope he went peacefully. He was a good friend years ago and he played in our band back in high school. I hadn't seen him in a few years, but he's always been a happy person.
My condolences to the Ortega family who loved him so much.
God bless...
Judy Anderson
April 13, 2011
I am so sorry to hear of Vals passing. My deepest sympathy and condolences to the Ortega family. I was a good friend of Vals when we were in our early teens. I have many fond memories of hanging with Val and Vicki.
Greg Milholland
April 11, 2011
My condolences and prayers are with all the Ortega family. I'll never forget the love Mrs. Ortega had for her children and for the Lord, how I grieve for her broken heart.
Sharon Bernash Smith
April 8, 2011
To my brother-in-law may your rest in peace. I love the times we spent together fixing mustangs, fishing or hiking. We always had a good time. Vikki and I love to come up to visit you and Sharon and the kids. Seems like yesterday. I am so proud to have been a part of your life you don't really know and I miss you laugh your smile and all the times you lend a helping hand. God bless to you and your family.
Peace
Seth Hill
April 8, 2011
Fidelia,
We are deeply saddened by Val's passing. I'm sorry I was not able to attend. Your family is in our prayers.
Mickey Corrin
April 8, 2011
My condolences and sympathies to the Ortega family.
I was in a garage band with Val playing the drums, way back in the '60s. In the brief time that our paths crossed, I found his love for music and for life to be uplifting.
Val: I hope that you're playing for a hot band in the next life.
Joel Ramey
April 8, 2011
We wish to express our sincere condolences to Val's family, Especially his loving Mother. She has been a faithful daughter of God, and a very loving Mother. May the Lord Bless her with the comfort that will ease her pain until she and her children are all reunited in Heaven.
Love Connie Hinkle, Jesse Ortega, Jessica Ortega, Sterling Hinkle, Barbara May and Bob May
April 8, 2011
My condolences to the Ortega family. I remember Val from Shumway and Fort. He was always smiling and had a huge fan club of girls including me. God bless you all.
Patt Hyde McCormick
April 8, 2011
Mrs. Ortega & Family,
I am so saddened to hear of Val's passing. I also went to school Our Lady of Lourdes with Val & Vicki and visited your home often. I have such fond memories of your whole family. I hope this poem will help comfort you in some small way.
Always A Friend,
Molly Ann Straub Reis
This day is remembered and quietly
kept. No words are needed, we shall
never forget. For those we LOVE
don’t go away, They walk beside us
everyday. Unseen and unheard but
always near, So LOVED, so MISSED and
so VERY DEAR.
Molly Ann Straub Reis
April 7, 2011
Fedelia: you have all my sympathies and sorrow in Val's passing. Gennie too.
I miss your family, I've always loved the beauty of it in many ways. Especially the way you are so close. It is so tough to lose one of your own. My prayers and thoughts will be with you at this time. I will be unable to come to the service but know you will all be in my thoughts.
Sincerely .....Ron Onslow, Ridgefield
April 7, 2011
Val and I were friends from 8th grade and the service and every bit of fun we could get into until we grew up and had children. We grew older and more apart, but he always stayed in touch and he called every month or so. We also planned to get together "some day". I have learned a VAL-uable lesson here old friend. We will keep that promise too, trust me, some day.
Larry Cronin
April 7, 2011
Elizabeth Ferrell
April 7, 2011
I am so sorry to hear of his passing as well
Donna Kasper/Johnson
April 6, 2011
Val, if you ask the girls we grew up with, barely a one will deny they had a crush on you, including me. Not only were you knee-sinking handsome, you had a gentle soul that you tried so hard to hide. I know your family is grieving and so are your friends, but in the back of my mind I see Vikki basking in that impish smile of yours and holding the hand of her brother. Give her a kiss for me. I miss her and I will miss you even though I haven't seen you for a long time. Save a place for me in that party line.
Elizabeth Ferrell, Seattle
April 6, 2011
Hi Mom, I'll see you at Church. All my Love and Prayer's.
Mike Walling
April 6, 2011
My condolences to the Ortega family.
Val was a dear friend when we were in high school and had our rock band together.I will truly miss him. My prayers are with you.
George K. Haluapo
April 6, 2011
To the entire Ortega Family, I wish you God's comfort at this sad , sad time. Vikki and Val were my beloved friends and playmates from the time I moved in across the street when I was 7 years old. Fidelia you were like a second Mother to me and so many of my favorite childhood memories revolve around the Ortega household. I am heartsick at the loss of Val who was my Buddy, my tormenter, and my go to guy for advice about boyfriends!!!! When he wasn't making me furious he was making me laugh. So good bye darling Brother of my heart may you rest in peace. Give Vikki my love.
Allyn Stokstad Schultz
Allyn Schultz
April 6, 2011
Fidelia, so very sorry for your loss. I think of you and Val often. You are in my prayers and I know you are in God's hands.
Jo Ann Strickland (BofA)
April 6, 2011
Fidelia, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with the whole family. I know what it's like to loose your child (Matthew) and I will keep you in my prayers. May God continue to cradle you in His loving arms as you all go through this trial. Love in Christ,
Cyndi Peck-Shively
April 6, 2011
Sorry to hear of Val's passing. We were friends from Our Lady of Lourdes school and then Shumway. I remember him as always being full of excitement and a little mischievous. All the girls loved him! My prayers are with the family.
Linda Moore Bozarth
Linda Bozarth
April 6, 2011
My prayers are with the entire Ortega family. I am so sorry for your loss. God bless all of you
Blanche Krulik-Grimes
April 6, 2011
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