Louis Everett Valentine

Louis Everett Valentine left this life on Thursday, October 10, 2013 on his 75th birthday of the effects of a long-term illness, a brain tumor which was removed surgically in 2000, and Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy.

Louis was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 10, 1938 to Hazel Noone and L. Everett Valentine and was one of seven children. Their father died when Louis was 9. The family had moved to Florida from Jamestown, New York.

Louis worked 40 hours a week during high school to help his family. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and attended Jacksonville University for 2 years before serving in the U.S. Army for 4 years. He was stationed at S.H.A.P.E. (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) in Paris, France, for 3 years where he met his future wife, Gillian Garrod.

They were married in England and made their home in Paris. Their first daughter, Sally, was born there at the American Hospital.

After their return to the U.S., Louis attended Florida State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree while working 60 hours a week to support his family.

His first job after college was with the American National Red Cross in Norfolk, Virginia. From there he was sent to Charleston, West Virginia where he worked as National Representative and later, as Executive Director of the Kanawha-Clay Chapter of the ARC, with one year in Hartford, Connecticut with the Red Cross Blood Program.

The family moved to Virginia Beach in 1977 and Louis worked for Stihl Incorporated for 19 years as a Buyer, and retired from there in 1997.

Louis is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gillian, and their three daughters, Sally Valentine of Richmond, Wendy Valentine Little and her husband, Tommy, and Penny Valentine all of Virginia Beach, six grandchildren, Heather Gatling and her husband, Lamont, Jillian Moore, Holley Bradbury, Kelsey Valentine Wirtes and her husband, Jacob, Adam Valentine, and Jesse Knoke, as well as 3 great grandsons, Jaden and Khalil Gatling and Malachi Ferebee.

Also surviving are his sisters, Pamela Valentine Pattee of Jacksonville Florida, Raney Colvill of Binghamton, New York, Edith Valentine of Sanford, Florida, and his brother, Peter Valentine of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Louis and Jill have been actively involved in local Parkinson support groups for several years and he was a member of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association.

Louis was a member of New Creation Community Church in Virginia Beach which is affiliated with Grace Communion International.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in his memory to New Creation Community Church, PO Box 6220, Portsmouth, VA 23703.

Louis was a man of faith, great courage and determination – he persevered in spite of his physical weakness and disability, never giving up the struggle to participate in life and was an inspiration to all those who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 17, at 3:30PM at Smith & Williams Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel, 4889 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach VA 23462. Please see website at: www.smithandwilliamskempsville.com.