Grandpa Pete

At the end of December Manny's family lost their patriarch.

Grandpa Pete - Pedro Valdez - was born in Sinaloa, Mexico in 1915.

In 1920 he traveled across the U.S. boarder into Texas via a covered wagon!!

It was there that he met and wed "Nanny" - Andrea Valdez - at the ripe old age of 22 (she was only 18).

They were happily married for over 72 years! Now that's commitment!

They settled in Southern California and raised their family.

Many, many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren later, Pete retired from his career of carpentry to pursue his hobbies: woodworking, masonry, gardening, and landscaping (among other things).

In his later years he started crafting wooden ships by hand. They are beautiful intricate replicas of real ships. We received one in the mail the very same day we heard of Pete's passing. The title on the side of the ship reads "Sentimental Journey". A very fitting token to remember him by. We are so thankful to have it. Pete will be sadly missed.

Post Edit:

Elijah was able to meet his Great Grandpa Pete once, when we visited California in April 2009. Sadly, because of his deteriorating health, we were unable to take a photo of them together. I do have a short video taken the day before we left. In it, Elijah reaches out, touches Pete's cheek and says "I love you Gampa Pete", then he shakes his hand. I am so glad we have that. I doubt he will remember meeting him, but he does talk about him often even now.

(All photos taken in July 2005)