Donald M. Valdes, Ph.D.

Donald M. Valdes, 86, a retired Denison University professor, died Saturday February 28, 2009 while at The Ohio State Medical Center.  Dr. Valdes taught anthropology, archeology and sociology at Denison for 35 years. He served as chairman of the department for many years.  He was Denison's first wrestling coach, taking the team from club status to a winning varsity program.  An early computer buff, Dr. Valdes was a regular user of the University's system from the beginning when a large mainframe filled an entire room.  He ended his career at Denison working in the Computer Department helping students adapt to the arcane new language, DOS.  He was an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Granville where he was a member for 56 years.

He and Johnnie, his wife of 64 years, were avid travelers.  For years they led groups of students to Mexico to study anthropology and archeology.  They traveled throughout Europe, including into Eastern Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain, always driving their own car and making do as best they could in places where they did not speak the language.  He was selected to participate in an archeological dig in Yugoslavia, sponsored by the Smithsonian Foundation. Following retirement, Dr. and Mrs. Valdes spent a year exploring Europe with a side trip to Egypt.  During that period they hosted their bicycling group for a trip along the canals of Holland.  While in Spain that Christmas, they learned that they had been selected for the following year to teach in the Semester at Sea program, traveling around the world by ship.  The couple's 50th anniversary was held with their children and grandchildren in a 5 star restaurant near the burgundy region of France, a restaurant discovered during an earlier trip.  Their 60th was celebrated in Merida, Mexico, again with children and grandchildren.

Donald M. Valdes was born on November 20, 1922 in Roselle Park, New Jersey.  His summers were spent on Barnegat Bay sailing a sloop he helped build. Later, in the late 1950's, he started a summer sailing school for kids at Beachwood Yacht Club in New Jersey; his students went on to win national championships, Olympic medals and America's Cup victories.  His participation in scouting, where he achieved the status of Eagle Scout, influenced his decision to attend the University of Maine, majoring in forestry.  He left college after his sophomore year to join the war effort in the Army Air Corp.  He was a pilot, flying B-24 and B-29s.  After receiving his wings he became a flight school instructor.  He married in 1945 and, following his discharge, resumed his education, earning a bachelors degree at Montclair State Teachers College, a master's degree in education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and a PhD in sociology from Ohio State University.   He remained a fan of Buckeye football his whole life.

He is survived by his wife Johnnie, his four children and their spouses, Tom and Felicia Valdes of Athens, Georgia; Jack and Joanne Valdes of Bethesda, Maryland; Andrea and John Hall of Kingston Springs, Tennessee; Salena and Kevin Barrett of Grasonville, Maryland; his brother Richard of Melbourne, FL; four grandchildren: Amanda Valdes Baierl, Bo Valdes, Michael Dickerson, and Charlie Dickerson, and one great grandson, Drew Baierl. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 25th, 2009 at The First Presbyterian Church in Granville.  Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the McPEEK-HOEKSTRA FUNERAL HOME in GRANVILLE. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions could be made to the Music and Mission Programs in care of The First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023.