Gus Valeri, Jr.

Gus Valeri, Jr., 92 of Prince Frederick, MD passed away on January 12, 2021 in Charlotte Hall, MD. Born on June 6, 1928 to the late Gus Valeri, Sr. and Linnie Pearl Patterson Valeri of La Grange, GA where he spent the first 22 years of his life. He graduated from High School at the Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga. He volunteered for the United States Air Force in August 1950. On November 8, 1952 Gus married Rita Louise Adamson. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1954 after serving a four year enlistment during the Korean War. Gus returned to his home in La Grange, GA where he attended and graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1958. His professional career began in the early Aero Space Industry, involving contributions to the construction of the Mercury and Gemini Capsules, and the first U.S. Spy Satellite launched. Leaving the Space Industry in 1979, he then joined and retired from the Union Carbide Corporation in 1993 and returned and purchased his retirement home in Dacula, GA. Gus was an active member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch, GA and also a member of the following clubs: Lions, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled Veterans, and Buick Club of America. He collected and enjoyed classic cars, was an avid Quail hunter and fished competitively with several Bass Clubs in Raleigh, NC and in Georgia. He is preceded in death by his parents Gus Valeri, Sr. and Linnie Pearl Patterson Valeri and his sister, Jo Ann (Valeri) Bruner. He leaves behind his devoted wife Rita Louise (Adamson) Valeri of 67 years; three daughters Victoria Lynn (Valeri) Hurtado and her husband Dr. Gerardo Hurtado of Durham, NC, Cynthia Joan Valeri Tella and her husband Dr. Robert Tella of Medfield, MA, and Catherine Lee Valeri Heilig and her husband Paul Heilig of Prince Frederick, MD; son Col. Mark Augustus Valeri and wife Kimberly Dillion Valeri of Forest Hill, MD; nine grandchildren; Matthew, Chris and Alex (Valeri) Blakeley, Jonathan and Gus Hurtado, Bobby and Carolynn Tella, Paul, Jr., and Shelby (Heilig) Frasca; three great-grandchildren; Hunter and Finn Blakeley and Sophia Valeri; brother, Antonio “Tony” Valeri; his sister, Betty Jean (Valeri) Haralson and her husband James Haralson; also survived by many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at St. John Vianney Catholic Church 105 Vianney Lane, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Gus’s memory to the Charlotte Hall State Veterans Home, ATT-Memorial Donations, 29449 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gus Valeri, Jr. please visit our Sympathy Store.