Phillip S. Valentine known as Big John to some and Val to others was born on July 31, 1934. He was the fifth of ten children born to Henry and Margaret Valentine, in St. Clairsville, Ohio. After graduating from High School, Val enlisted into the United States Air Force, where he devoted 26 years defending our country.

After retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1981 he settled down in Lompoc, California where he met and married his wife Florence Paula Pagaling. He was an active member of the VFW Post 1717, American Legion Post 125, and the Moose Lodge. He found employment after retirement at the Hollister Ranch, and spent much of his leisure time at the Watering Hole (Jasper's, Shamrock, or the bar at the VFW). To know Val was to love him, and his Bar B Que always kept you coming back for more.


Val's extended family resides here in Lompoc as he is lovingly known by most as "Uncle Val". As for the spiritual side of Val, he had Christian Brothers that he spent time with daily, he would not be caught without them.

He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Margaret Valentine, his brothers Henry, Jimmy, David & Robert Austin Valentine, and his beloved wife Florence Valentine. He leaves to Cherish his memory his five sisters, Margaret Valentine, Katherine Bacon, Geraldine Valentine, LaVon Cobb, and Happy Johnson, his niece and nephew Ruby and Anthony Gabbedon and their three Children Jaydin, Jasmine, and Julian, whom he lived with for the past six years, as well as a host of nieces nephews relatives and friends. We will all miss his charisma and charm, as no one can fill that seat at the end of the bar. We Love You Uncle.

A memorial service with a Bar B Que for Val will be at the Veteran's Memorial Building on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 11am. He and his wife's ashes will be inurned at the Bakersfield National Cemetery at a private ceremony on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.