Connie L. Valentine

Connie L. Valentine, formerly of Dryden, NY, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023 at home with family by her side. She fought a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Connie was born in New Castle, PA on November 28, 1941, to the late James and Cora Newman Lutton. She moved to Ithaca, NY as a teen with her family and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1959. Connie never missed a dance nor an opportunity to hang out with friends at Sputniks during her high school years.
She attended Oklahoma College for Women graduating with a BA in French. While in college, she was the President of the French Club and a member of Eche Sa Social Club. After college, Connie returned to Ithaca and met her future husband, Jim Valentine, and they were married July 9, 1967.
Her outgoing personality provided a positive influence on the many lives she touched as a foreign language teacher, retail salesperson, and as a customer representative. She excelled, receiving many outstanding service awards, at American Demographics Magazine and the Tompkins County Trust Company in Ithaca, NY.
Connie was an avid reader, and had many interests: cooking, shopping, listening to music from rock and roll to opera, camping, crossword puzzles, exercise classes, movies, TV, concerts, plays, and visiting art galleries. She was always willing to try something new!
In 2005, Connie and Jim moved to Salisbury, MD to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Being able to celebrate holidays with her family and attend her grandchildren's various activities were so important to her! Additionally, she volunteered at the Salisbury Art Space, joined the Institute for Retired Persons, and participated in the Association for Lifelong Learning. She was also a member of the Great Books and Poetry groups. Connie met many treasured friends through these experiences.
Connie is survived by Jim, her loving husband of 55 years, devoted daughters, Julie (Dan) Diekmann of Huntingtown, MD and Melissa (Patrick) Miller of Salisbury, MD, and cherished grandsons, Cole Diekmann and Gavin Miller. Other survivors include her brother-in-law Richard Glover of East Aurora, NY, sister-in-law Hikka Valentine of Albertville, AL, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister, Alice Glover, brother-in-law, William Valentine, sister-in-law, Frances Williams Knapp.
A Celebration of Life for Connie will be announced at a later date.
To honor her memory, please consider donating to: Wicomico Public Library, 122 S. Division St., Salisbury, MD 21801 or Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, 1101 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801.
Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.hollowayfh.com.