Billy Valentine Obituary (1938 - 2019)

James William "Billy" Valentine, 80, of Saint Peters, MO and formerly of Bloomington, passed away at 5:56 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2019 at his son's home in Kansas City, MO. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2019 at Historic St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bloomington, with Rev. Bob Suit and Rev. Don Wester concelebrating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Historic St. Patrick Catholic Church. He was born August 4, 1938 in Bloomington, a son of James E. and Bertha Josephine "Betty" Garbe Valentine. He married Mary Diane Hallett on July 2, 1970 in Bloomington. Surviving are his wife, Diane Valentine of Saint Peters; five children, Barbara Lee Williams, Bloomington, Deborah Ellen (Joseph) Adelman, Normal, Penelope Jaye (Will Sams) Valentine, Bloomington, Joseph William (Theodora) Valentine, Kansas City, MO, Andrew James (Kristen) Valentine, Kansas City, MO; eight grandchildren, Shelby Elizabeth Taylor, Megan Lynn Taylor, Brandon Adelman, Brittany Adelman, Paris Valentine Kritzer, Mik Andrew Valentine, Luke James Valentine, Romeo Joseph Valentine; and a brother, Gary Lee Valentine of Hendersonville, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents. Billy retired from State Farm Insurance Companies in Bloomington. An accomplished musician, the Billy Valentine Orchestra played '40s dance music in downstate ballrooms. He was a vocalist touring with the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. He also led the Sugar Creek Dixieland Allstars, was a member of the Howard Jacobs Band and Al Pizzamiglio Orchestra. He was the president of Musicians Local 102. He served in the 133rd AAA AW Battalion of the National Guard as an E4 Specialist.