BURL VALENTINE, 82, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at the Life Care Center in Sedro-Woolley, WA. He was born on January 22, 1920 in Hartford, Tennessee, the son of Ceberon & Kate Ellison Valentine. He was raised and worked on his family farm in Tennessee until joining the Army in 1940. During WW II he was a tank operator and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Hamlet in Junction City, Kansas on January 2, 1943 and following his discharge from the service they came to Skagit County in 1946. They made their home in Lyman where Burl worked in the lumber mills, moving to Concrete in 1956 where he worked for Lone Star Cement and then as a construction worker, helping to build Baker Dam. In 1960 they moved to Chehalis, WA where Burl continued in construction, and helped in building the Mossyrock Dam. He returned to Skagit County Sedro-Woolley from 1965 to 1970, moving to Chehalis from 1970 to 1995. He retired in the early 1970’s. In 1995 he and Dorothy settled in Sedro-Woolley.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 22 in Chehalis, where he and his wife Dorothy for several years oversaw many of the bingo games and where Burl was the building maintenance supervisor, and a member of the Laborer’s Union Local 252 in Olympia.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting and working in his vegetable garden.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy of Sedro-Woolley. 1daughter & son-in-law, Vivian Lee & Gregory Finnson of Bellingham. 1 brother, Truman Valentine in Idaho. 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Saturday January 4, 2003 at 1:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. Reverend Nan Geer of the Free Church Unitarian in Blaine, WA officiating.
Memorials to a charity of your choice are suggested. Cremation and services under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share thoughts of Burl & sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com