William F. Valentine's Obituary
William (Bill) F. Valentine 96, of Ennis, died Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Brookdale assisted living facility, where he had resided since February 2012. Mr. Valentine was born July 29, 1918, in Dallas to William E. and Mary Lena Barber Valentine. He attended Dallas public schools and graduated from Sunset High School in 1936. He was married for 68 years to Dorothy M. Wilson Valentine. The couple married December 19, 1942, in Red Bank, NJ, just before then-2nd Lt. Valentine shipped overseas during World War II. He was awarded the Army Soldier’s Medal for heroism exhibited when the troop transport ship carrying him to his station in Iceland was torpedoed by a German submarine on February 7, 1943. His long career in the construction business began in 1937, when he was hired to work on the Highlander apartments in Dallas. He later managed commercial construction projects in seven states, including a Naval ordnance plant in AR; General Motors manufacturing plant in LA; motels in CO and NE; system of telephone microwave stations in OK; student union and dormitory at ENMU in NM; 7-story bank/office building, IRS facility, federal communication center, department store, all in TX. He lived in Amarillo from 1980-2011 and managed a variety of construction projects around the city, including St. Anthony’s Hospice, Amarillo Independent School District, Amarillo College and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his parents, and his brothers, Roy and Wayne Valentine. He is survived by daughter, Sandy Haskovec, of Ennis, and husband, Kenneth; daughter, Lyn Graham, Moore, OK, and husband, Kent; grandson, Justin Graham, Plano, and wife, Kimber; grandson, Lt. Col. Jonathan Graham, Clovis, NM, and wife, Dana; grandson, Dr. Jeremy Graham, Hillsboro, OR, and fiancée, Andréa; and by great-grandchildren Riley and Duncan Graham, of Plano and Keira and Danielle Graham, of Clovis, NM. Mr. Valentine is also survived by nieces, Nancy Valentine-Chupp, of Joshua; Vicki Valentine Wright, of Dallas, and husband, Jimmy; Dr. Carol Wilson, of Denton; Adrian Wilson Anderson, of Denton, and husband, David; Nancy Wilson Humphrey, of Farmers Branch, and husband, Irving; and Tess Wilson Swindle, of Columbus, and husband, Gary. A graveside service for William Valentine will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 31, 2014 at Restland Memorial Park.
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