Santos Villareal Valdez, 75, of Wauchula, passed away at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on February 4, 2012. Mr. Valdez was born in San Antonio, Texas on January 27, 1937; he moved to Hardee County 45 years ago. He was a citrus grove laborer and member of St. Michael Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Benita Valdez of Wauchula; five sons, Santos Valdez, Jr. of Wauchula, Jose Valdez and Carlos Valdez both of Arcadia, Ricardo Valdez of Zolfo Springs, and Jesse Valdez of Winter Haven; six daughters, Carmen Valdez, Ernestine V. Obregon, Maria Valdez Guerrero, and Stella Negrete, all of Wauchula, Anita Valdez Guerrero of Ft. Meade, and Angelita Valdez of Bartow; three brothers, Pete Valdez and Jim Valdez, both of Zolfo Springs, and Raul Valdez of Georgia; four sisters, Olivia Salas of Zolfo Springs, Sally Coronado of Lakeland, Eva Borgas and Jamie Vargas, both of Texas; 43 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at Robarts Garden Chapel. Funeral Mass is Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, followed by interment in Wauchula Cemetery.