Valerie Lynn Radford

Valerie Lynn Radford, age 72, of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away on September 21, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Valerie was born in 1950 to William A. Carnell and Phyllis B. (Nancollas) Caleo in Rochester, NY. After graduating from high school in Rochester, Val moved to Northern California to be closer to her mother. She welcomed her daughter, Amy, to the world and the two of them moved back to Rochester, NY to be closer to her sister Wilma (Billie). Val married Greg Radford in 1972 and a few years later, they welcomed their daughter, Kim. After a few years, Val and Greg moved to San Jose, CA with the girls, but Greg moved back to Rochester soon after.

Val moved from San Jose to Florida in 1981 with her daughters. She worked in electronics, working on hard drives, ultrasound machines, and worked with a team that was subcontracted by the US Navy to do wiring on a submarine in San Diego. She was so small framed that she was the only one that could work on the back of the panel, as they had to lift her upside down and hold her by her ankles so that she could do the wiring as quickly as possible with the blood rushing to her head.

Amy and Kim grew up and moved out of the house and began their own lives. Amy married an Englishman, James, and they had twin boys, Jamie and Kurt, in 1993. In January 1994, James, Amy, and the twins moved to England. Kim moved in with her boyfriend, and then to an apartment of her own before making the move to Virginia.

In 1994, Val met Erin O’Connell in South Florida. They became good friends but were dating other people until 1996. Val and Erin have been together ever since, getting married on their 20th anniversary in 2016. Val followed Erin to Erin’s hometown of Santa Barbara in 2003.

While in Florida, Val worked at many computer technology companies, but the companies all started leaving Florida and Val was tired of constantly looking for a new job, so she started a job at Publix Supermarkets. She was not in her element but learned the ropes quickly. She worked in the deli and sub-shop for eight years before her move to Santa Barbara. She found a job at Scolari’s Food and Drug Company after a short time in town. Val worked in the deli and bakery at Scolari’s, moving her way up to deli/bakery manager. Val worked at Scolari’s until the store closed in May 2012. Val then worked at Albertson’s in Carpinteria, CA for 4 ½ months before being approached to make the move to WholeFood’s Market. Val worked in the bakery and juice bar ever since. Val really enjoyed working because she was a people person and needed the interaction she received at work. She needed to be around lots of people.

Val loved spending time with her family, both in England and Florida/Georgia. She traveled to England as often as possible and took trips from there with Erin, Amy, and Amy’s husband Neale. In July 2021, Val became a great grandmother to Freddie James Livie. She adored him so much.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Billie, her brother William, and Billie’s four children.

She is survived by her Aunt Connie of PA; her sister, Connie (Bill) of Holt, FL; her wife Erin of Santa Barbara, CA; her daughter Amy (Neale) of England; her daughter Kim (Kris) of Florida; her grandsons’ Jamie (Sophie) and Kurt; her great grandson, Freddie (from Jamie); her stepson, David of Santa Barbara, CA; her nieces, Brandy, Karrie, and Charlene, and their beaus; her nephews, Bob and Dan of Rochester, NY and many great nieces and nephews, and her mother-in-law, Caroline.
There will be a Celebration of Life held in Val’s honor. For more information, please email: foreverval1012@gmail.com