Alice Ann Sunkenberg Bolin Russell

1935 - 2023

Our beloved Alice Ann Sunkenberg Bolin Russell passed away peacefully on February 15, 2023 at home surrounded by her family. She was 87 years old.

Alice Ann born on July 2, 1935 to the late Herman H. Sunkenberg and Alice Stuart Sunkenberg in New York and was raised in the Bronx. As a young girl, she was very curious and creative. When asked, she would tell you she got her curiosity from the Stuart side of her family and her creativity from the Sunkenberg side of her family.

Reading and academics played a large role in her life. She graduated early from high school and went on to attend Hobart/William Smith College in Geneva, New York. There, she earned her bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies and Education, made lifelong friends who still refer to each other as "The Crazy Eights", and met and married Henry Francis Bolin, Jr. (Hank)

As a young, married military couple, they moved to several cities before settling down in Virginia Beach and raising their children in the Kempsville area.

Alice Ann's early career, in the late 50's was as an elementary school teacher in New York. After moving to Virginia Beach in the 60's, she continued her education, earned her Masters in Social Work, and became the Supervisor for Comprehensive Mental Health Services for the City of Virginia Beach, where she retired when she was almost 70 years old in 2006. She was innovative and instrumental in the many mental health programs she helped to develop and implement for children, foster care, the mentally ill, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and the aging.

Although Alice Ann had many interests like reading, animals and travel, by far her biggest passion was the love she had for her family. We are blessed to have that legacy of her love…it has been modeled and passed on to the rest of us.

She is predeceased by her sister, Mary Stuart Sunkenberg Kraus (Jon). Left to cherish her memory are her brother, William Sunkenberg (Martha), her sons, Henry Francis Bolin III (Leanne) and Thom Alexander Bolin, her daughters, Mary Jean Bolin and Amy Alicia Bolin Barton (Pat), step-son Brian Russell, grandchildren Joshua Bolin(Kaitlyn), John Austin Bolin (Katie), Ethan Bolin, Luke Bolin, Lucy Bolin, Megan Bolin, Henry Bolin, Bane Barton, Benjamin Russell, Zachary Russell, her three great-grandchildren Cole Anderton, Sadie Anderton, and Henry Francis Bolin IV, and a host of nieces, nephews, and life-long friends. She will be truly missed.

The family wants to thank everyone that shared their books with Mom through the years and feed her passion for reading.

We would also like to thank Doris Ridley, Mom's nurse from Frieda H. Gordan Hospice. Angels do walk amongst us.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church.

Visitation will be held at H.D Oliver Funeral Apts., 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA, on Friday, March 10, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hdoliver.com

A funeral will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 2:00pm at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church.