Born Juan Lorenzo Valdez, son of Maria Ermojenes Dorrance and Jose Salomon Valdez. His parents were of New Mexico families who settled Ocate, Mora, New Mexico of the 1860's and remained through the 1940's. Known to family and friends as Larry, he was grandson to Maria Rita Martinez & Jose Napoleon Dorrance and Maria Bartola Vargas & Jose Alcario Valdez, all of New Mexico.
Larry's immediate family left Ocate in the late 1920's and moved to Colorado where they settled in Las Animas, Bent county. Like many, Larry enlisted to serve during WWll. Fighting for the 14th Armored Division, his tank battalion became known and celebrated as "The Liberators." Shrapnel wounds sent him home in 1946 where he met and Married Maria Santos Armijo of Wagon Mound, Mora, New Mexico.
In Feb. 2005, Juan Lorenzo passed from Alzheimer's Disease complications. He was cremated and buried at the grave of his beloved parents. He is survived by his only child, Nancy Valdez and his granddaughters, Anna Marie O'Canas and Nicole Darling.
Larry's immediate family left Ocate in the late 1920's and moved to Colorado where they settled in Las Animas, Bent county. Like many, Larry enlisted to serve during WWll. Fighting for the 14th Armored Division, his tank battalion became known and celebrated as "The Liberators." Shrapnel wounds sent him home in 1946 where he met and Married Maria Santos Armijo of Wagon Mound, Mora, New Mexico.
In Feb. 2005, Juan Lorenzo passed from Alzheimer's Disease complications. He was cremated and buried at the grave of his beloved parents. He is survived by his only child, Nancy Valdez and his granddaughters, Anna Marie O'Canas and Nicole Darling.
Born Juan Lorenzo Valdez, son of Maria Ermojenes Dorrance and Jose Salomon Valdez. His parents were of New Mexico families who settled Ocate, Mora, New Mexico of the 1860's and remained through the 1940's. Known to family and friends as Larry, he was grandson to Maria Rita Martinez & Jose Napoleon Dorrance and Maria Bartola Vargas & Jose Alcario Valdez, all of New Mexico.
Larry's immediate family left Ocate in the late 1920's and moved to Colorado where they settled in Las Animas, Bent county. Like many, Larry enlisted to serve during WWll. Fighting for the 14th Armored Division, his tank battalion became known and celebrated as "The Liberators." Shrapnel wounds sent him home in 1946 where he met and Married Maria Santos Armijo of Wagon Mound, Mora, New Mexico.
In Feb. 2005, Juan Lorenzo passed from Alzheimer's Disease complications. He was cremated and buried at the grave of his beloved parents. He is survived by his only child, Nancy Valdez and his granddaughters, Anna Marie O'Canas and Nicole Darling.
Larry's immediate family left Ocate in the late 1920's and moved to Colorado where they settled in Las Animas, Bent county. Like many, Larry enlisted to serve during WWll. Fighting for the 14th Armored Division, his tank battalion became known and celebrated as "The Liberators." Shrapnel wounds sent him home in 1946 where he met and Married Maria Santos Armijo of Wagon Mound, Mora, New Mexico.
In Feb. 2005, Juan Lorenzo passed from Alzheimer's Disease complications. He was cremated and buried at the grave of his beloved parents. He is survived by his only child, Nancy Valdez and his granddaughters, Anna Marie O'Canas and Nicole Darling.
