Valverde, Daniel (1940-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Oct 3 p. 6

Birth date: 1940

Akron, Pa., church member murdered

By Mennonite Weekly Review staff

BOWMANSVILLE, Pa. — Tire store owner Daniel Valverde, a member of Akron Mennonite Church, was beaten to death at his store Sept. 20.

Authorities believe Valverde's assailant escaped in a used SUV stolen from the store, where it had been parked by its owner to attract buyers, according to news reports.

Valverde, 65, was a native of Bolivia who had been married to his wife, Bernice, for 39 years and had two sons and several grandchildren.

Police said a customer found Valverde beaten to death in the store shortly before noon.

A Sept.26 story in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal said police had been examining surveillance video from a nearby business, which they believe may show the suspect in Valverde's death. authorities said they had been receiving a large number of tips from the public about the suspect's identity.

Valverde was remembered as a good businessman who enjoyed helping people from his Bolivian hometown of Moro Moro.

According to news reports, Valverde had established a scholarship fund to help students from his hometown go to college.

Valverde also had helped Moro Moro get a new bulldozer to deal with frequent mudslides, friends recalled.

Neighbors were puzzled that a robbery appeared to have played a part in Valverde's death.

"He would be the kind of guy, if someone came in and threatened him, he would give them the cash drawer." said neighbor Jan King. "He wouldn't fight. He wasn't that kind of guy."

A memorial service was held Sept. 25 at Akron Mennonite Church.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Oct 23 p. 7

Life sentence imposed for Pennsylvania murder

By Mennonite Weekly Review staff

LANCASTER, Pa. —