Carol A. Valen

Carol Ann (Clore) Valen passed away on Friday, June 8, 2018 at her home in Middletown, Ohio. Carol was a loving mother with a life deeply rooted in family. She was affectionately known as “Yiayia Carol” to many. All those whom she met experienced her compassion for others. She had a remarkable way of connecting with people, finding commonality and building lasting friendships. She always found good in others. Put simply, she “never knew a stranger.”

Carol Valen was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Mother of Mercy High School. Carol met her husband, Anthony Valen, at the University of Cincinnati and they were married in 1961. She dedicated her life to instilling family values in her four children and ten grandchildren. Carol was an active, charitable member of her church and embraced the Greek Orthodox faith. Those close to her will miss her smile, her lovely example of graciousness to others, but most of all her unconditional love of family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Anthony Valen, retired 12th District Court of Appeals Judge, parents Angela (Rusconi) and Lloyd Clore, sister, Mary Jo (Clore) Kling, sisters-in-law, Despina (Valen) Sakelos and Patti (Thompson) Clore and grandson, Lazaros Thomas Retzios.

Carol is survived by her four children Irene (Valen) and Anthony Zalants, with children, Emanuel and Valen; Angela (Valen) and Thomas Retzios, with surviving children, Caroline, Thomas and Anthony; Connie (Valen) and Tom Hodson, with children Margaret and Joseph; Gus and Kelly (Jordan) Valen, with children Anthony and Katherine; brothers, Charles and Michael Clore and brothers-in-law, James Sakelos and Earl Kling. Many other cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2018 with the Trisagion Service held at 7 pm at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd., Middletown. Funeral service will be held Friday, June 15, 2018 at 10 am at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Middletown with the Rev. Father Joseph Gingrich. Interment will follow at Woodside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown, OH 45044 and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park N., Dayton, OH 45405.