Florence Carolyn Belote

Florence Ward Belote, 81, passed peacefully away on March 29, 2021, surrounded by children, grandchildren, and her adoring husband of 61 years. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Bowden W. and Frances D. Ward, who brought her to Norfolk in 1954. She enrolled at Norview High School, and soon caught the eye of Howard "Sonny" Belote, who that very day announced he'd met the woman he was going to marry. They wed on April 4, 1959, and until dementia took its toll on "Flo," were inseparable, adventurous, and fun - with regular dates to go dancing well into their seventies.

Springing from her lifelong love for Howard, her prideâ€"and greatest legacyâ€"was raising five children who still like each other and look for reasons to get together. Flo spent her entire adult life in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, but was determined to show her children the United States. She frequently packed the whole family (plus her mom) into a Ford van and with Howard pulled a camper to Florida, to Canada, and on two 30-day trips from sea to sea to visit National Parks and family members across the country. She invited any and all to visit Virginia Beach or their cottage in Duck, NC, frequently and graciously hosting family and friends; her dinner table offered the best fried chicken and meat loaf ever along with lively conversation and laughter. In her later years, she maintained that breakneck pace, traveling with her sister and with close friends to China and Europe, and never lost her sense of adventure. Well into her sixties, she took her grandkids on the highest and fastest roller coasters at Busch Gardens.

Flo also took pride in her career and in her deep faith. While her kids ranged from 4 to 17 years old, she went to nursing school, and spent more than a decade as a cardiac care nurse at Virginia Beach General Hospital. She attended St. Peter's Episcopal Church and sang in its choir for more than 50 years. She spent long hours studying the Bible, and had no doubt about her future in heaven. While her family and friends already miss her deeply, they celebrate her life and her love.

In addition to husband Howard, she is survived by her children David (Pam), Steve (Elisabeth), Kathy Galford (Steve), John, and Jenny Wells (Mark); grandchildren Drew, Mike, Matt, Zach, Ryder, and Maverick Belote, Mike (Jess) and Mindy Galford, and Paloma and Oliver Wells; her sister Mary Smith (Jim); and a long list of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Bowden W. Ward, Jr. (Dolly).

The family will gather at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 1:00pm on Thursday, April 8, with interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.smithandwilliamskempsville.com.