Richard J. "Rich" Valentine, 83, of Alliance, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:42 pm at his home in Alliance, Ohio.
Born on December 18, 1939 in Alliance, to Raymond and Ruth (Brown) Valentine, he lived in Alliance for all of his life.
Rich was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo.
He attended St. Joseph School in Maximo and Louisville High School.
A veteran of the Vietnam Era, he served our country in the U.S. Army.
Rich was employed at Alliance Machine and retired from GM Lordstown as a machinist after 30 years of employment.
He was a 46 year life member of Alliance BPO Elks #467.
Rich had a passion for racing cars. He won the NHRA, National Hot Rod Association Championships in Detroit, in 1960, driving his 1953 Woodill Wildfire, by Power Unlimited. He won his class and set a new ET record. In 2012, Rich fulfilled his dream of rebuilding his Woodill Wildfire and enjoyed taking the car to car shows in the area. It was not unusual for his car to place in multiple class categories. Rich had a deep love for his cars and a special gift for working on all cars. He was well known for being the community mechanic. Rich was passionate about teaching others and sharing his knowledge so that his love of cars would live on.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine "Gerri" (Paumier) Valentine, whom he married on April 4, 1964; three daughters, Lori (Kenny) Leornard, Linda (Mike) Tesch and Debbie (Scott) Weekley; son, Joseph Valentine; 11 grandchildren, Adam (Alexa) Tesch, Jared Leonard, Hannah (Kyle) Bast, Brooke (Howard Frazier) Leonard, Winona Valentine, Trever Tesch, Allison Weekley, Jacob Weekley, Wyatt Weekley, Holly Valentine, Ryan Vitale; two sisters and nine brothers.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and a brother, Eugene Valentine.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo, with Rev. G . David Weikart, as celebrant. Viewing will follow the Mass at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elks Scholarship Fund, 606 Glamorgan St., Alliance, OH 44601 - in the memo line list "In Memory of Richard Valentine" or to Aultman Deuble Heart and Vascular Hospital, payable to The Aultman Foundation, 2600 6th St. SW, Canton, OH 44710 - www.aultman.org/GiveFromTheHeart .
You are invited to view Richard's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories at www.sharerfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home.
Born on December 18, 1939 in Alliance, to Raymond and Ruth (Brown) Valentine, he lived in Alliance for all of his life.
Rich was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo.
He attended St. Joseph School in Maximo and Louisville High School.
A veteran of the Vietnam Era, he served our country in the U.S. Army.
Rich was employed at Alliance Machine and retired from GM Lordstown as a machinist after 30 years of employment.
He was a 46 year life member of Alliance BPO Elks #467.
Rich had a passion for racing cars. He won the NHRA, National Hot Rod Association Championships in Detroit, in 1960, driving his 1953 Woodill Wildfire, by Power Unlimited. He won his class and set a new ET record. In 2012, Rich fulfilled his dream of rebuilding his Woodill Wildfire and enjoyed taking the car to car shows in the area. It was not unusual for his car to place in multiple class categories. Rich had a deep love for his cars and a special gift for working on all cars. He was well known for being the community mechanic. Rich was passionate about teaching others and sharing his knowledge so that his love of cars would live on.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine "Gerri" (Paumier) Valentine, whom he married on April 4, 1964; three daughters, Lori (Kenny) Leornard, Linda (Mike) Tesch and Debbie (Scott) Weekley; son, Joseph Valentine; 11 grandchildren, Adam (Alexa) Tesch, Jared Leonard, Hannah (Kyle) Bast, Brooke (Howard Frazier) Leonard, Winona Valentine, Trever Tesch, Allison Weekley, Jacob Weekley, Wyatt Weekley, Holly Valentine, Ryan Vitale; two sisters and nine brothers.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and a brother, Eugene Valentine.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo, with Rev. G . David Weikart, as celebrant. Viewing will follow the Mass at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elks Scholarship Fund, 606 Glamorgan St., Alliance, OH 44601 - in the memo line list "In Memory of Richard Valentine" or to Aultman Deuble Heart and Vascular Hospital, payable to The Aultman Foundation, 2600 6th St. SW, Canton, OH 44710 - www.aultman.org/GiveFromTheHeart .
You are invited to view Richard's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories at www.sharerfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home.
Richard J. "Rich" Valentine, 83, of Alliance, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:42 pm at his home in Alliance, Ohio.
Born on December 18, 1939 in Alliance, to Raymond and Ruth (Brown) Valentine, he lived in Alliance for all of his life.
Rich was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo.
He attended St. Joseph School in Maximo and Louisville High School.
A veteran of the Vietnam Era, he served our country in the U.S. Army.
Rich was employed at Alliance Machine and retired from GM Lordstown as a machinist after 30 years of employment.
He was a 46 year life member of Alliance BPO Elks #467.
Rich had a passion for racing cars. He won the NHRA, National Hot Rod Association Championships in Detroit, in 1960, driving his 1953 Woodill Wildfire, by Power Unlimited. He won his class and set a new ET record. In 2012, Rich fulfilled his dream of rebuilding his Woodill Wildfire and enjoyed taking the car to car shows in the area. It was not unusual for his car to place in multiple class categories. Rich had a deep love for his cars and a special gift for working on all cars. He was well known for being the community mechanic. Rich was passionate about teaching others and sharing his knowledge so that his love of cars would live on.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine "Gerri" (Paumier) Valentine, whom he married on April 4, 1964; three daughters, Lori (Kenny) Leornard, Linda (Mike) Tesch and Debbie (Scott) Weekley; son, Joseph Valentine; 11 grandchildren, Adam (Alexa) Tesch, Jared Leonard, Hannah (Kyle) Bast, Brooke (Howard Frazier) Leonard, Winona Valentine, Trever Tesch, Allison Weekley, Jacob Weekley, Wyatt Weekley, Holly Valentine, Ryan Vitale; two sisters and nine brothers.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and a brother, Eugene Valentine.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo, with Rev. G . David Weikart, as celebrant. Viewing will follow the Mass at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elks Scholarship Fund, 606 Glamorgan St., Alliance, OH 44601 - in the memo line list "In Memory of Richard Valentine" or to Aultman Deuble Heart and Vascular Hospital, payable to The Aultman Foundation, 2600 6th St. SW, Canton, OH 44710 - www.aultman.org/GiveFromTheHeart .
You are invited to view Richard's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories at www.sharerfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home.
Born on December 18, 1939 in Alliance, to Raymond and Ruth (Brown) Valentine, he lived in Alliance for all of his life.
Rich was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo.
He attended St. Joseph School in Maximo and Louisville High School.
A veteran of the Vietnam Era, he served our country in the U.S. Army.
Rich was employed at Alliance Machine and retired from GM Lordstown as a machinist after 30 years of employment.
He was a 46 year life member of Alliance BPO Elks #467.
Rich had a passion for racing cars. He won the NHRA, National Hot Rod Association Championships in Detroit, in 1960, driving his 1953 Woodill Wildfire, by Power Unlimited. He won his class and set a new ET record. In 2012, Rich fulfilled his dream of rebuilding his Woodill Wildfire and enjoyed taking the car to car shows in the area. It was not unusual for his car to place in multiple class categories. Rich had a deep love for his cars and a special gift for working on all cars. He was well known for being the community mechanic. Rich was passionate about teaching others and sharing his knowledge so that his love of cars would live on.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine "Gerri" (Paumier) Valentine, whom he married on April 4, 1964; three daughters, Lori (Kenny) Leornard, Linda (Mike) Tesch and Debbie (Scott) Weekley; son, Joseph Valentine; 11 grandchildren, Adam (Alexa) Tesch, Jared Leonard, Hannah (Kyle) Bast, Brooke (Howard Frazier) Leonard, Winona Valentine, Trever Tesch, Allison Weekley, Jacob Weekley, Wyatt Weekley, Holly Valentine, Ryan Vitale; two sisters and nine brothers.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and a brother, Eugene Valentine.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maximo, with Rev. G . David Weikart, as celebrant. Viewing will follow the Mass at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elks Scholarship Fund, 606 Glamorgan St., Alliance, OH 44601 - in the memo line list "In Memory of Richard Valentine" or to Aultman Deuble Heart and Vascular Hospital, payable to The Aultman Foundation, 2600 6th St. SW, Canton, OH 44710 - www.aultman.org/GiveFromTheHeart .
You are invited to view Richard's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories at www.sharerfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home.
