Lester Valentine was born December 28, 1913 in Jena, Florida to James Walter Valentine and Elvena, known to all as "Vinie" Overstreet Valentine. He was born on the old Valentine Place east of the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Lester was five times a fourth generation of Dixie County. These family lines are Valentine, Overstreet, Ellison, Locklier and Mixon.
Lester joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, then located at the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Rev. Charlie Holmes baptized him in the Steinhatchee River at the age of 16. He finished the eighth grade of school and started work to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters. His father had died at an early age. In Lester's early life he worked for Putnam Lumber Company (1933-1934), drove a school bus (1935-1937), and in 1940 was elected County Commissioner of Precinct #12, District #5, for a two year term. He served in the Army in World War ll.
Additionally, he fished, worked for the Town of Cross City at the first water plant (1943-February 1945). In 1947, Lester moved his family to Gainesville, Florida where he worked for five years at the Gainesville Utilities. On the first day of January 1953, he went to work for the University of Florida, retiring in 1976. Over these same years, Lester and his family built several homes that he sold or rented. In 1973, Lester moved his family back to their home in Dixie County and drove to Gainesville each day to finish out his retirement time with the State.
Lester was a avid hunter. He loved the "woods" and raised his family to love and respect it too. Up to the last week of his life, on his "good days," you might find him "taking a ride" in the woods. One of Lester's favorite joys was to take his wife, Dora, for a ride in the woods to pick her a bouquet of wild flowers. Lester was a devoted husband and loving father. He was the last surviving member of his siblings.
Lester Valentine died Monday, March 20, 2000 at five p.m. at North Florida Regional Hospital, Gainesville, Florida. Lester is survived by his wife, Dora Butler Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; two sons, Steve Valentine and Frayne "Smokey" Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; one daughter, Evonne Cline of Horseshoe Beach; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces. He was buried at Butler Cemetery on March 23, 2000 at 10:00 A.M. with graveside services officiated by Rev. James Butler.
Lester joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, then located at the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Rev. Charlie Holmes baptized him in the Steinhatchee River at the age of 16. He finished the eighth grade of school and started work to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters. His father had died at an early age. In Lester's early life he worked for Putnam Lumber Company (1933-1934), drove a school bus (1935-1937), and in 1940 was elected County Commissioner of Precinct #12, District #5, for a two year term. He served in the Army in World War ll.
Additionally, he fished, worked for the Town of Cross City at the first water plant (1943-February 1945). In 1947, Lester moved his family to Gainesville, Florida where he worked for five years at the Gainesville Utilities. On the first day of January 1953, he went to work for the University of Florida, retiring in 1976. Over these same years, Lester and his family built several homes that he sold or rented. In 1973, Lester moved his family back to their home in Dixie County and drove to Gainesville each day to finish out his retirement time with the State.
Lester was a avid hunter. He loved the "woods" and raised his family to love and respect it too. Up to the last week of his life, on his "good days," you might find him "taking a ride" in the woods. One of Lester's favorite joys was to take his wife, Dora, for a ride in the woods to pick her a bouquet of wild flowers. Lester was a devoted husband and loving father. He was the last surviving member of his siblings.
Lester Valentine died Monday, March 20, 2000 at five p.m. at North Florida Regional Hospital, Gainesville, Florida. Lester is survived by his wife, Dora Butler Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; two sons, Steve Valentine and Frayne "Smokey" Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; one daughter, Evonne Cline of Horseshoe Beach; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces. He was buried at Butler Cemetery on March 23, 2000 at 10:00 A.M. with graveside services officiated by Rev. James Butler.
Lester Valentine was born December 28, 1913 in Jena, Florida to James Walter Valentine and Elvena, known to all as "Vinie" Overstreet Valentine. He was born on the old Valentine Place east of the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Lester was five times a fourth generation of Dixie County. These family lines are Valentine, Overstreet, Ellison, Locklier and Mixon.
Lester joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, then located at the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Rev. Charlie Holmes baptized him in the Steinhatchee River at the age of 16. He finished the eighth grade of school and started work to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters. His father had died at an early age. In Lester's early life he worked for Putnam Lumber Company (1933-1934), drove a school bus (1935-1937), and in 1940 was elected County Commissioner of Precinct #12, District #5, for a two year term. He served in the Army in World War ll.
Additionally, he fished, worked for the Town of Cross City at the first water plant (1943-February 1945). In 1947, Lester moved his family to Gainesville, Florida where he worked for five years at the Gainesville Utilities. On the first day of January 1953, he went to work for the University of Florida, retiring in 1976. Over these same years, Lester and his family built several homes that he sold or rented. In 1973, Lester moved his family back to their home in Dixie County and drove to Gainesville each day to finish out his retirement time with the State.
Lester was a avid hunter. He loved the "woods" and raised his family to love and respect it too. Up to the last week of his life, on his "good days," you might find him "taking a ride" in the woods. One of Lester's favorite joys was to take his wife, Dora, for a ride in the woods to pick her a bouquet of wild flowers. Lester was a devoted husband and loving father. He was the last surviving member of his siblings.
Lester Valentine died Monday, March 20, 2000 at five p.m. at North Florida Regional Hospital, Gainesville, Florida. Lester is survived by his wife, Dora Butler Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; two sons, Steve Valentine and Frayne "Smokey" Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; one daughter, Evonne Cline of Horseshoe Beach; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces. He was buried at Butler Cemetery on March 23, 2000 at 10:00 A.M. with graveside services officiated by Rev. James Butler.
Lester joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, then located at the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Rev. Charlie Holmes baptized him in the Steinhatchee River at the age of 16. He finished the eighth grade of school and started work to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters. His father had died at an early age. In Lester's early life he worked for Putnam Lumber Company (1933-1934), drove a school bus (1935-1937), and in 1940 was elected County Commissioner of Precinct #12, District #5, for a two year term. He served in the Army in World War ll.
Additionally, he fished, worked for the Town of Cross City at the first water plant (1943-February 1945). In 1947, Lester moved his family to Gainesville, Florida where he worked for five years at the Gainesville Utilities. On the first day of January 1953, he went to work for the University of Florida, retiring in 1976. Over these same years, Lester and his family built several homes that he sold or rented. In 1973, Lester moved his family back to their home in Dixie County and drove to Gainesville each day to finish out his retirement time with the State.
Lester was a avid hunter. He loved the "woods" and raised his family to love and respect it too. Up to the last week of his life, on his "good days," you might find him "taking a ride" in the woods. One of Lester's favorite joys was to take his wife, Dora, for a ride in the woods to pick her a bouquet of wild flowers. Lester was a devoted husband and loving father. He was the last surviving member of his siblings.
Lester Valentine died Monday, March 20, 2000 at five p.m. at North Florida Regional Hospital, Gainesville, Florida. Lester is survived by his wife, Dora Butler Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; two sons, Steve Valentine and Frayne "Smokey" Valentine of Horseshoe Beach; one daughter, Evonne Cline of Horseshoe Beach; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces. He was buried at Butler Cemetery on March 23, 2000 at 10:00 A.M. with graveside services officiated by Rev. James Butler.
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