Mirtha A. Vallejo

Mirtha A. Vallejo passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 17, 2021. She was born on January 6, 1938, in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Ramiro Morales and Eulalia del Cristo. She attended the University of Havana, where she received both law and business degrees. She went on to use her skills as a Customs Broker working with her father at Rancho-Boyeros Airport in Havana. In December of 1960, she married Dr. Sergio H. Vallejo and over the next few years, they had two children. In 1968, when her husband had to flee the country, Mirtha stayed with their children and persevered through the hardships of the Communist system. In late 1969, the family was reunited in the United States and in October of 1970 they moved to Lakeland from Kansas. Mirtha was an accomplished concert pianist. For years, she was involved with The Performing Arts Program at Florida Southern College, the Tuesday Music Club and was an accompanist for many middle and high school students in Lakeland for county and state Solo and Ensemble contests. Mirtha was the Office Manager for her husband’s medical practice from 1985 to August 2014, when they retired. When they weren’t working, she enjoyed traveling all over the world with family and friends and making many beautiful memories. Mirtha was very proud of her Cuban heritage but was even prouder of being an American. She was very vocal about her political beliefs, her patriotism, and her love for the United States. She is survived by her daughter Mirtha Crosby and her husband Scott, her son Sergio R. Vallejo and his wife Kim, grandchildren Anthony and Christina Vallejo, and Allyson and Brandon Pickering, as well as two half-brothers, Ramiro, and Rick Morales. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Florida Southern College Performing Arts Program, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. Lakeland, FL 33801. A celebration of life will be held at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL, 33801, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 2 pm.