Valdo Vincent John Moncada, Lt.Col., USAF, Ret.

Valdo Vincent John Moncada, Lt.Col., USAF, Retired, died peacefully on Thursday, June 8, 2017. Valdo was born in Newburgh NY on Sept. 4, 1919, to the late Reverend Pietro & Emma Plavan Moncada. He attended Newburgh Free Academy (NFA), then Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN, where he majored in French and Mathematics. In 1942, after attending MIT's Meteorology program, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corps and led weather units on several WW2 offensives in Africa, and Europe, including the Battle of Anzio Beach Italy. He also served in the Japan Occupation, Korean War, and the Cold War. He married Mary Howell of Asheville, on June 15, 1945. He retired from the USAF in 1962 after 21 years of service. For the next 30 years, he and Mary owned Bon Voyage Travel Agency in Newburgh, NY. He was involved in many civic activities including Lions Club (Life Member), Hudson River Masonic Lodge, UNICO and Meadow Hill Reformed Church. He and Mary retired for the 3rd time to Asheville in 1994. Again, he became involved in the Lions Club. He was a Master Mason, with membership in Lodges in NC and NY and with membership in many additional Appendant Masonic Bodies He was an active supporter of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Valdo enjoyed his various clubs, loved to travel, seldom missed a Sunday concert at St Mathias Episcopal Church, Saturday night with Lawrence Welk, and his many friends and family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, after 71 years of marriage; his sister and brother-in-law, Clelia and Tommy Smith; sister-in-law, Joyce Howell; niece, Margaret Knooihuizen; nephew, Wayne Smith; son-in-law, Mark Goodson; and great-granddaughter, Mattie Shields. He is survived by his sister "Mimi" Emilia (Delbert) Knooihuizen, of Hudson, OH; his children, Carol Goodson, of Candler, NC, Peter (Sue) Moncada, of Bozeman, MT, John Moncada, of Hazleton, PA, Joyce Moncada, of Asheville, NC, and Beverly (Elam) Smucker, of Narvon, PA; nine grandchildren, Tim (Melanie) Goodson, Brad (Wendi) Goodson, Laura (Wes) Shields, Chad Moncada, Jarrod Moncada, Daniel Inions, William Moncada, Ashley Moncada, and Nathan Smucker; 12 great-grandchildren, Georgia, Dover, Caroline, Copeland, Carlyle, Emma, Cody, Tucker, Jackson, Cody, Harrison, and Parker. His family would like to thank Sharon Buckner and Seniors Helping Seniors - especially Charles and Chip - and many family and friends for keeping Valdo interested and active the last several months. Memorials may be made to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 or a charity of your choice. The funeral service is on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at 4:00 p.m., Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Final interment of both Valdo & Mary's ashes at noon on Monday at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain. Groce Funeral Home, Patton Ave. is assisting the family.