Valerie Frances Dobney, 86, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, died October 4, 2024.
She was born on February 14, 1938, in Kettering, England to the late James and Elsie Long. She was named in honor of the day of her birth, Valentine’s Day, and her father’s sister who had recently passed away.
Valerie began playing piano at age six, and was taught by her mother for the first year. She was then enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music until she was 13. Valerie played for the Leicester, England Singing Company and occasionally for the Songsters. The family immigrated to Detroit in 1951 where she completed piano studies at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. Valerie’s parents encouraged her to become a classical concert pianist, but at 16 she decided to pursue another path.
She has accompanied hundreds, if not thousands, of soloists over the years with her very first accompaniment, at age 10, being with her father, an accomplished trombone soloist. In high school, she joined choir. When the school accompanist was absent, her friends encouraged her to fill in, and she accompanied them for the last two years of high school. With the school system differing in England, Valerie began Eastern High school at age 13 and graduated three years later in 1954. Had she wanted, she could have enrolled at the Wayne State University Music School as a Junior. Valerie played piano for choruses and soloists at The Salvation Army’s divisional (EMI) music camps for many years and the territorial music camp (CMI) from 1962 until 1992. Valerie accompanied the Singing Company and the Songsters at the Detroit / Dearborn Heights Citadel Corps of The Salvation Army until 2008, after giving 43 years of service.
Valerie accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior as a young child, then at 14 she became a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army where she dedicated her many talents to the Lord. She was the Girl Guard Leader, a Sunday School Teacher, and gave piano lessons to quite a few children, who never liked to practiced. (You know who you are.)
She had a couple of jobs including work as a waitress at Camp Echo Grove, and as a legal secretary for a lawyer and motorcycle insurance agent, Edward A. Simon. She began working for him right out of high school, paused to start her family, and returned to work there until her retirement in December of 1999.
Valerie met William Dobney “Bill” at the Corps, but they fell in love while serving on summer staff together at Echo Grove Camp. They were married on March 29, 1958 and managed an apartment building together near the Michigan State Fairgrounds. They lived in many places throughout their marriage including a duplex near MacKenzie High School, Garden City, Dearborn Heights, an independent living facility in Fort Gratiot, and their final move to Sandalwood Creek in Smiths Creek in August 2024.
Valerie is survived by three sons, Russell (Sandra), David (Christina), and Gary (Evie); eight grandchildren David (Lisa), Andrew (Elyse), Douglas, Brian (Jeanie), Daniel (Keri), Julianna, Adam (Ashton), and Amy; seven great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Penelope, Linnea, Elin, Hannah, Graham and Hunter. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Elsie Long and her husband Bill.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at The Salvation Army, 26700 West Warren Avenue, Dearborn Heights. Visitation will begin at 12 noon. Col. Jeffery Smith will officiate.
Burial will be at Oak View Cemetery, Royal Oak.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army. Arrangements are by Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com
