Joseph Benjamin Valentine

Joseph Benjamin Valentine Jr. was born on January 13, 1931, in Philadelphia, PA to Joseph and Mildred (Pinkett) Valentine. He was raised in “The City of Brotherly Love” and graduated from a local hometown high school. He later continued his education by earning a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of New Mexico. He proudly served for over 20 years in the US Air Force (USAF). Upon retiring from the USAF, he entered a second career as an Administrative Supervisor for the New Mexico Dept. of Labor where he retired a second time in 1993.

Joseph married the love of his life, Jestine Hammond on November 7, 1951 in Sante Fe, NM. During their 70+ years of marriage, Joseph and Jestine Valentine birthed a blessed family starting with their four children: Wellington, Linda, Debra, and Wayne. Although Joseph’s greatest passion was family, he also enjoyed fishing, reading, politics, music, gardening, and shopping for all the latest gadgets. 

Joseph B. Valentine Jr. passed away on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the age of 93 years old. He is preceded in death by his father Joseph Valentine; his mother Mildred Valentine; his brothers: Wellington, Rodney, Albert, and Burton Valentine; and his sisters: Bertha and Blanche Valentine. He leaves behind to cherish his precious memory his wife Jestine Valentine; his children: Wellington Valentine, Linda Davenport (husband Lafayette Davenport), Debra Smith, and Wayne Valentine (wife Lisa Valentine); his nephew Victor Valentine; his niece Reece Valentine; and three generations of grandchildren.

Joseph was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He leaves us all with his deep incomparable love and the fondest of memories to cherish forever.