Stanley Valenta

Stanley (Stanislav) Valenta was born in Hrabenov, Czechoslovakia on February 28, 1920 to Jedek Valenta and Marie Kubicek.Jedek (Jan) Valenta (the Father) was the son of Jan Valenta and Barbora Janke (of Zabreh, Czechoslovakia).Marie (the Mother)was the daughter of Josef Kubicek and Frantiska Zajicova (of Hrabenov, Czechoslovakia).Stanley had an older brother Jerry (Jaroslav) and a younger brother Johnny (Janislav) and two sisters, Mary and Francis (all now deceased).Stanley was baptized as a Roman Catholic, on February 29,1920, in the Roman Catholic Parish of Ruda (diocese of Olemouc, Czechoslovakia)Stanley, along with his Father, Mother and two brothers immigrated to America, leaving Czechoslovakia on 12/31/1928 and arriving in the US on 1/14/1929. The family lived in/rented their Aunt Mary’s (Jedek’s sister) home (Montgomery Street, Patterson, NJ) during this time in AmericaStanley, along with his Father and younger brother Johnny returned to Czechoslovakia in 1936. Jedek bought a dance hall in Hrabenov with the money he made in the US. As Hitler’s threats to Austria and Czechoslovakia became more real, the family returned to the US in 1937 as Jedek was worried that his sons would be forced to serve in the Russian Army as he did in WWI, or worse. The family eventually bought a house in Paterson, NJ (606 Madison Ave.).Stanley attended Paterson Vocational School, studying textile design and manufacturing, from 1937 to 1939, then beginning his career in textile design in New Jersey/New York City area in various positions.1939- 1940- Burch Silk Co (Pennsylvania)1940-1941- WeenstraIn 1941, with the war in Europe escalating and the real potential for US involvement, Stanley decided to support the war effort by going to work for Wright Aeronautical (1941-1942) manufacturing small parts for aircraft. On 12/15/1942, Stanley enlisted in the Army Air Corp as a Cadet with the hopes of to becoming a pilot. He received his basic training in Atlantic City, then attending Penn State University taking an accelerated curriculum focusing on academic studies and finally completing his basic training in Nashville, TN. His pre-flight training was received at Maxwell Field, in Montgomery, Alabama. He attended ‘Primary’ pilot training in Ocala Fl, taking his first solo flight on 11/24/1943. He attended ‘Basic’ pilot training in Bainbridge, GA and ‘Advanced’ two engine training at Turner Field in Albany, GA.Personal note: In the middle of all of this military training, on April 23, 1943, Stanley became a United States citizen.Upon completion of his pilot training, Stanley was assigned various positions as an instructor, a pilot for North African Division of the Air Transport Command (ATC) based in Casablanca and a pilot for the Domestic Ferry Group. Stanley was awarded both the European-African Theater Ribbon and the American Theater Ribbon for his service. He logged over 1500 hours of flight time, in various aircraft, during his two years and eight months in the Army Air Corps.On a personal note:In 1939, Stanley met his future bride, Gloria (Bunny) Miller. Their first date was attending the 1939 World’s Fair in New York followed by a viewing of ‘Gone with the Wind’ and attending a big band (Dorsey/Miller,etc.) concert. Quite the 1st date, huh??On November 27,1943, Stanley married ‘Bunny’ in Ocala, FL, while he was attending primary Army Air Corp pilot flight training.On May 7, 1945, his only Son, Glenn, was born in Paterson, NJ. On June 17, 1953, his only Daughter, Heidi, was born in Ridgewood, NJ. Interesting Factoid: While Stanley wasn’t a big baseball fan, his wife Bunny was. They both attended the only perfect game to be pitched in World Series history (Don Larson’s perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers on 10/8/1956)…His son Glenn still has the ticket stubs……. After the war, Stanley resumed his career in textiles with various positions in the textile business in and around New York City as follows:1945-1952 Stanley took a position as a Textile Designer, at Meadox, in Waldwick, NJ.1952- 1958 Stanley took a similar position at Ronitex, in Paterson, NJ.1958-1960- Turpan Inc.1960-1963- Wayne Weavers1963-1966- Ronitex (again)1966- 1971- Schulman-Sunshine company.In 1971, Stanley took on the professional challenge of his life, moving to Rutherfordton. NC and becoming part of a ‘start up’ textile company, Mastercraft, specializing in ‘high end’ upholstery fabrics. Both Stanley’s, and Mastercraft’s, name and reputation grew in recognition during the ensuing years such that, by 1985, Stanley was considered one of the top textile designers/stylists in his field and Mastercraft was considered one of the premier upholstery textile design and manufacturing companies in the US/world.With Mastercraft, Stanley enjoyed ever increasing roles of responsibilities and authority, including being a Plant Manager and eventually becoming Executive Vice President until his ‘career change’, at the age of 70, in 1990. He remained with Mastercraft, as a Design Consultant, until his retirement, at age 79, in 1999.In addition to his military and professional careers, Stanley was an accomplished musician, learning the accordion at an early age and continuing playing into his adulthood. Stanley played accordion in his older brother’s (Jerry) orchestra and later formed his own dinner/dance quartet ‘The Esquires’, playing various local northern New Jersey venues during the 1950 and 1960s. Story has it that, once in the 1950s, Stanley was visited by the renown ‘Les Paul’, who was interested in learning how the accordion was amplified. Les had this crazy idea of applying this technology to a guitar…..go figure… Stanley continued his enthusiasm for flying after the war. He obtained his pilot’s license and flew recreationally both in New Jersey and in North Carolina. Interesting factoid: Stanley trained on a PT-17 Stearman trainer while in Ocala, FL. in 1943. Later on in life, Stanley’s son Glenn, living in nearby Orlando, FL at the time, was employed by a firm whose owner (i.e. Robert Finfrock) was an avid flyer of vintage aircraft and who also happened to own a restored PT-17 Stearman. On one trip to Orlando to visit his son, Stanley took advantage of the opportunity to fly the Boss’ Stearman, just like the one he flew during his WWII flight school days in Ocala. Upon inspection of the Boss’ vintage aircraft, Stanley discovered that the Boss’ plane was THE exact plane (same VIN # as recorded in his 1943 log book!!!) Stanley trained on, back in 1943….how wild is that ?Stanley enjoyed golf. While living in New Jersey, he enjoyed playing various golf courses in the northern New Jersey/New York area. Upon his relocation to North Carolina, he took the opportunity to ‘live the golf club lifestyle’ by building a home on a golf course, Cleghorn Golf and Country Club in Rutherfordton, NC, where he played quite often during his 30 years living there. He recorded the only hole-in-one of his life on his ‘home’ course (3rd hole/Par 3) when he was 75 years young. Stanley and Bunny moved to Owings, Maryland, to be closer to their daughter, after his retirement in October, 1999. Unfortunately, Bunny had a brain hemorrhage in April, 2000 and passed away from complications a few years later (October, 2003). Stanley spent the majority of time caring for Bunny during this time. After his wife’s passing, Stanley enjoyed his time in Maryland, continuing to play golf, being a homeowner and traveling with his daughter. He also took advantage of his close proximity to Washington, DC to visit all of the local sights and attractions.During his time in Maryland, one memorable moment occurred when Stanley attended a dedication ceremony for a display of Charles Lindbeg memorabilia, donated to the Smithsonian Nation Air and Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center), by an old business colleague, Stanley King. Stanley was 92 years young when he passed away on 8/5/2012 from complications of dementia and just plain old ‘old age’.A life well lived…… To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Stanley Valenta please visit our Sympathy Store.