Maria “Carmen” Chandler, 85, of Falls Church, Virginia, passed away on June 10, 2017. Graveside funeral service and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on August 9, 2017 at 11:00am with Father Martin McGuill officiating. Visitation will be held at 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia, on August 8, 2017 from 6-8pm. Everly Community Funeral Care will be handling the funeral arrangements.  (Please arrive at the Arlington administration building by 10:30am)

Carmen was born on June 6, 1932 to Francisco and Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Valdes. She was 1 of 10 children, 5th oldest out of 5 boys and 5 girls. She grew up in Seville, Spain, and attended Catholic boarding school as a child. After completing her secondary education, she studied abroad in England before returning back to Seville to pursue a career in nursing.

Having a solid command of the English language she began working as a telephone operator on Moron A.F.B., Spain. That’s where she met her future husband, J.D. Chandler, a military police officer stationed at the base. After a short engagement, they got married in 1964 in Seville, and later moved to the United States. Several years later they celebrated two major achievements, the birth of their son Carlos in 1969 and becoming a Naturalized American Citizen in 1970. She was a proud Spaniard but equally proud to be an American. She would often say, “I am Spanish by birth but American by choice”. She was a devoted wife who happily travelled with her family to various military bases overseas and stateside. During those years while raising a son and enjoying the military life, she also worked part-time as a medical assistant.

After J.D.’s retirement from the Air Force in 1982, they settled in Northern Virginia. She continued to work part time until his death in 2000. They were married for 35 years and he was the love of her life. The love she had for him was immeasurable, only equaled later by the love she had for her grandchildren, Carmen and Mason. They gave her a new lease on life. She never forgot a birthday and was always with them on major holidays, even when the distance was a plane flight away. More importantly, she shared many stories of J.D., so they grew to know their grandfather even though they never had the pleasure of meeting him.

Unknowingly to her family, her final gift was allowing them the honor of celebrating her 85th birthday. 4 days later, in the comfort of her son’s home and with family, she was called to the Lord. She is now with J.D., the one person she longed to be with in her final months.

Carmen is survived by her son, Carlos Chandler, sister, Anna Maria Perez, daughter-in-law, Fanya Chandler, granddaughter, Carmen Chandler, grandson, Mason Chandler, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, J.D. Chandler, parents, Francisco and Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Valdes, and siblings, Francisco Gonzalez De Valdes, Maria Gloria Palomo, Carlos Enrique Gonzalez De Valdes, Juan Jose Gonzalez De Vales, Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Valdes, Pedro Jesus Gonzalez De Valdes, Jose Antonio Gonzalez De Valdes, and Maria Amparo Wright.

She will be greatly missed by family and friends for all her years of love, support and sassiness.

In lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation to Carmen’s favorite organization, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org

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