Valeria Kuntz Symes

Valeria Kuntz Symes passed away peacefully at home in Newport Beach on December 15, 2012. Val was born October 6, 1921, in Forest Hill, NJ, the youngest of Albert and Jane Kuntz’s three children. She and her brother Jack and sister Janet grew up in Bronxville NY, but spent several winters in Pasadena CA during Val’s junior high school years. It was here that she met the love of her life and future husband, Bill Symes.
Val returned east to graduate from Bronxville High School in 1939 and Hollins College in 1943. Following graduation, Val took a job with Time Magazine in New York, while Bill was stationed with the 8th Air Force in England. When the war in Europe ended, Bill returned home to marry Val July 23, 1945, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The couple returned to California, driving actress Joan Crawford’s car across the country to settle in Los Angeles where Bill began his career, first in radio and TV broadcasting and later joining his father Jack in the automobile business in Pasadena. The growing Symes family made its home in Arcadia and spent summers in Newport Beach, where they moved permanently in 1980.
Val had a passion for travel, boats, beaches, dogs, and coffee ice cream. But most of all, she was passionate about her family, especially her husband of 67 years Bill, sons Bill Jr., John, Jim, and Peter, grandchildren Kate, Anna, John, Tim, Sam, Maggie, Joe, Matt, Andy, and Ben Symes, step-grandchildren Zac and Nicole Carman, and great grandson Charlie Wolf. She was never happier than when surrounded by her children and grandchildren at the annual Symes family gathering at the Alisal Ranch. Val was the model of a loving and compassionate wife, mother and grandmother, and a lasting inspiration to every member of her family.
Besides her husband, four sons, 12 grandchildren and great grandson, Val is survived by her daughters-in-law LauraLee Symes, Sue Symes, and Judy Symes and grandson-in-law Matthew Wolf. The family would like to express its special gratitude to the expert and loving caregivers who helped make Val’s final years comfortable and happy, Denise Wood and Maria Bermudez.
Funeral arrangements are by Pacific View Mortuary in Corona Del Mar. Memorial mass will be at 10 am Saturday, Dec. 22, at St. John Vianney Chapel on Balboa Island.