VALEN, The Honorable Anthony Retired 12th District Court of Appeals Judge, 82 of Middletown passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 17, 2014. Judge Valen met his wife Carol (Clore) Valen at the University of Cincinnati and they were married in 1961. Judge Valen was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio by Gus and Irene Valen who immigrated from Crete, Greece and owned The Liberty Restaurant. The family along with many in the local Greek community assisted in establishing the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Middletown. Judge Valen loved life and his family. He was an eternal optimist, enjoyed engaging in conversation with anyone he met and was a great storyteller. He was a humble gentleman who gave selflessly to his children, grandchildren and community. He and Carol believed that a strong family bond is critical to life's success. This was embodied by the many family vacations with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was proud of being a part of the Middletown community. He was passionate about Veterans and was Chairman of Veterans Memorial at Woodside Cemetery. He graduated from Washington & Lee University and served as First Lieutenant in the United States Army. He received his law degree from University of Cincinnati. He began his career as a Prosecutor in Dayton. He then moved to Middletown opening his law practice and served as a Middletown Prosector. He was elected as a Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge and continued his career as a 12th District Court of Appeals Judge. As an Ohio Judge, he was instrumental to the profession. Judge Valen pushed the limits of conventional thinking in areas of technology in the courts and procedures to increase the effectiveness of the court system and those in it. The site of the 12th District Court of Appeals is located in Middletown through the efforts of Judge Valen. Judge Valen was preceded in death by his parents, Gus Anthony Valen & Irene (Tekakis) Valen; sister, Despina (Valen) Sakelos; uncle, Otis Tekakis; aunt, Krystallia (Tekakis) and husband, John Pantel; and grandson, Lazaros Thomas Retzios. Judge Valen is survived by his loving wife Carol; four children Irene (Valen) and Anthony Zalants, with children, Emanuel and Valen; Angela (Valen) and Thomas Retzios, with surviving children, Caroline, Thomas and Anthony; Connie (Valen) and Tom Hodson, with children Margaret and Joey; Gus and his wife, Kelly Valen, with children Anthony and Katherine. Many other special brother and sister-in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2014 with the Trisagion Service held at 7 p.m. at WILSON-SCHRAMM-SPAULDING FUNERAL HOME, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd., Middletown. Funeral Service will be held Monday, June 23, 2014 at 10:00 am at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Middletown with the Very Rev. Father Bill Cassis, Very Rev. Father Mark Emroll and Rev. Father Irenaeus Cox officiating. Interment will follow at Woodside Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Middletown Combined Honor Guard.

Published in Dayton Daily News on June 20, 2014