Hilarion "Larry" Valeriano Sr.

Col. Hilarion M. Valeriano, CE, AFP, USAFFE Battle Creek Col. Hilarion "Larry" Valeriano, Sr., 95, of Battle Creek, peacefully passed away in his sleep at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan, on March 8, 2009. Larry was born to Ulpiäno and Catalina (Masa) Valeriano on October 21, 1913 in Anao, Tarlac, Philippines. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Rosita in 2000, and his loving sons, Johnny Benito and Emmanuel. He is survived by his cherished children, Col. Hilarion, Jr. (Dr. Cresencia, M.D.), Estrellita Covarrubias (the late Dr. Jose, Sr., M.D.), Grace Seidle (James) in Ottawa, Dr. Victoria Florante, M.D. (Dr.Epifanio, M.D.) in Battle Creek, Gloria Bonifacio (Jaime) in Pennsylvania, and 0scar in Toronto, Canada. A graduate in civil engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology, Larry was an alumnus of the Command & General Staff School, Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was a battalion commander and chief of the Corps of Engineers. Among other infrastructure projects he supervised was building the facilities of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) where he subsequently served as professor of logistics and higher mathematics. Among his many distinctions, he was awarded the Purple Heart twice for combat duty while serving with the United States Armed Forces for the Far East (USAFFE). Prior to relocating to Battle Creek in 1988, he was vice president of operations at Landoil Resources, a mining-land-development-oil exploration conglomerate. In Battle Creek, he was affiliated with the AARP, Burnham Brook Center, George A. Custer American Legion Post #54, Access Vision TV and Meijers on Columbia Ave. He pursued his love of mentoring at Dudley Elementary School and St. Philip Catholic School, as an active member of the Senior Employment Program with the CAA "Adult Grandparents" program as well as at the Kingman Museum. His proud legacy includes his many cherished grand and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Luz Gambito (Napoleon) of Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya. An educator, a gentleman farmer, sharpshooter, an avid horseman and animal lover, a ballroom dancing enthusiast, accomplished communicator, Larry will be forever remembered for his many and varied accomplishments as well as his humanity, motivation, vision and valor. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2009 at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Craig Lusk at St. Joseph Catholic Church 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2009. Military Honors and interment will follow at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Kairos Dwelling Home, 2945 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo 49048 or The Pallative Care Unit at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 5500 Armstrong Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49016. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.