Manuel Leon "Bunky" Valdez

1918 - 2010

Manuel Leon "Bunky" Valdez June 28, 1918 - July 14, 2010 A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at Christ's Church of the Valley, 13701 Stockdale Hwy. in Bakersfield, CA at 11:00 a.m. for Bunky Valdez, to celebrate his life as a father, grandfather, great- grandfather, brother, and caring friend. The first of seven boys and five girls was born to Lee and Natividad Valdez, Bunky lived a varied and colorful life, but it was his love and passion for music that he was best known for. Introduced to music by his maternal grandfather, Teofilo Gueta, at age 11, Bunky quickly became a highly skilled saxophone, flute and clarinet player by the age of 19 and had formed his own 14 member big band. Obviously, wages for musicians in the 30's were not grandiose and $2 a week was average compensation for a local band leader. Music had to take a back seat to Army duty in WWII, but Bunky was successful in getting into an Army band for the last six months of his service. In 1952, Bunky along with his brother Andy ventured into the nightclub business and founded Bunky's El Portal at Olive Drive and old US 99. Five years later, while business was flourishing, he was forced to sell the club to accommodate the Freeway 99 bypass. February of 1956, Bunky married Owassa Sparks Nettles. This little Texas dynamo was all of about 5 feet, 4 inches, 100 pounds and full of life. They shared 44 years together until Owassa's passing in 2002. While still in the band business, Bunky searched for another job to augment his growing family and became a manager of a large television sales and repair business on Chester Avenue. Two years later, he moved to Montgomery Ward where he worked 17 years before retiring in 1978. Just prior to his retirement, he acquired a real estate license in anticipation of another career, this one with Century 21 Locator, where he joined his son-in-law, John Garone's office in 1979. During his career in real estate he served on many committees and in 1989 was awarded Salesperson of the Year by Bakersfield Association of Realtors. Bunky blew his horn well into his 80's enjoying entertaining the seniors at Rasmussen Center. Bunky was preceded in death by his wife Owassa; parents, Lee and Nati Valdez; brothers, Chico, Joe, Trini, and Lee Valdez and sister, Erma Chavez. Bunky is survived by his daughters, Dawn and husband, Michael Lippert, Diane and husband, Jim McKnight; step-daughter, Jan and husband, John Garone; son, Gary and wife Billy Valdez; sister, Juanita Garcia, Mary Lou and husband, Ray Solano, Isabel and husband, Charlie Duran, Esther and husband, James Cabrera; brothers, Andy Valdez, Paul Valdez; grandchildren, Danielle Lippert, John and wife, Cheryl Garone, Gina and husband, Christian Holestein; great-grandchildren, Joe Holestein, Lucy Holestein, Luca Garone and Mia Garone. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hoffmann Hospice or a charity of your choice. Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. Charlie Parker Greenlawn Mortuary www.bakersfield.com/obits