Valerie A. Nabors

Valerie A. Nabors was born on 21 February 1948 to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Columbus D. Jude and Mrs. Marie Jude in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Valerie and her family lived for many years in Long Branch, New Jersey and also on various US Army military installations around the world. She was the second of five children. Her siblings include: Mr. Columbus D. Jude, Jr, a military veteran who resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Mr Leon Jude, a military veteran who resides in Jessup, Maryland; Dr. Colleen Jude, who resides in Hollywood, Maryland; and, Mr. Glenn Jude, now deceased. Valerie proudly embraced the affectionate title "military brat" for 19 years, until she met her husband and the love of her life, Robert, on 28 May 1968, while serving as the manager of the Army and Air Force Exchange Annex in Fort Monmouth. After spending a magical summer together courting on the beautiful "Jersey Shore" and prior to Robert's posting in Vietnam, they married in an intimate ceremony attended by only four guests, in Niagara Falls, New York on 6 October 1968. Valerie and Robert celebrated 47 years of marriage on 6 October 2015. Valerie stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband Major General Nabors, through 35 years of Military service. She supported him tirelessly through more than a dozen postings within the United States and six overseas tours; six command tours of duty; several operational deployments; and more than a score of relocations. In the critically important capacity of "First Lady", she gave a voice to often overlooked military family members, obtained resources on their behalf; provided counseling and guidance; and ensured that when a Soldier was deployed that his or her family was cared for and protected. Needless to say, she was spectacularly successful in her many endeavors, and provided a strong foundation for her successors to follow. Valerie and Robert had three sons: Rob, Chief of Staff for the Department of Veterans Affairs; Richard, senior manager at the US Army Night Vision Laboratory, Research, Development and Engineering Command; and Jonathan, now deceased, a beloved elementary school. Her irrepressible spirit, steady hand, and loving heart guided each of them through the travails and excitement of growing up with the many moves they experienced. Under her watchful eye, they grew to adulthood as happy, well-adjusted citizens. In a lifetime with many accomplishments and scores of prestigious awards, such as the Secretary of the Army's Award for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Chief of Staff of the Army Civilian Commendation Award, the United States Army Europe Soaring Eagle Award, the Dragon Command's Three Coin Set of Excellence, to name a few, the accomplishment in which she took the greatest pride was her three sons. In her eyes and heart, her accomplishments and those of her husband paled in significance to those earned by her three sons, no matter what they achieved. Valerie was the original "Mama Grizzly"---fierce, loyal but above all else, loving. Valerie died on Saturday, December 19, 2015. She is survived by her mother, husband, three siblings, two sons, six grandchildren and thousands of Soldiers and their families (all of whom, although not biological families, were still "families of her heart"). During her long and distinguished life, she held many titles: daughter, beloved sister; devoted wife; loving mother; military "First Lady" extraordinaire; and doting grandmother who felt that it was her Constitutional right to spoil her six grandchildren. In each of these roles, she brought a rare sensitivity; sense of urgency; limitless compassion; uncommon wisdom; and an all-encompassing love to caring for people. She was the gold standard for selfless service to others and the Nation. As Valerie continues her journey into the loving hands of God and undertakes to make her final of 20 homes in Heaven, she will be loved, honored, respected and missed by all of those who were privileged to have known her. Without any equivocation whatsoever, Valerie was a Great Lady.

Tributes

Valerie A. Nabors

February 21, 1948 - December 19, 2015