Submitted by: Dan Rich

Florence L. Valentine

1900 – Mar. 1,1998

South Bend Tribune 3/5/1998

Mrs. Florence L. Valentine, 97, formerly of 1019 Talbot Street, South Bend, Ind., expired on Sunday, March 1, in the Cardinal-Meridian Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, South Bend.

She was born to Charley and Sarah Owens Abbott on June 4, 1900, in Lima, Ohio. She was one of five children born to that union. Her parents passed away when she was five years old. She stayed in an orphanage in Lima until the age of eight. Later, she was adopted by a Mrs. Lewis, who resided in Kenton, Ohio, and that city became her permanent residence.

She married Purdy Scott in 1919. He passed away in 1960. In 1967 she married Kenneth Valentine, and they moved to South Bend. He also preceded her in death in 1978. Shortly after coming to South Bend, she united with First A.M.E. Zion Church where she was an active and faithful member for many years. She was a member of the senior choir, was a Sunday School class leader and chairlady for the Sunshine Committee. She was a member of the Eastern Star and attended regularly until ill health prevented it. Her ''family by choice'' was her church, consisting of sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, and nieces and nephews. She is survived by a sister, Bertha May Ivy of Annapolis, Md.; a foster daughter, Rhonda Hamilton of Columbus, Ohio; and by two friends, Annie Dickens and Lillie Hill, who cared for her during her final years.

Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service at the First A.M.E. Zion Church. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, South Bend. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Clark Funeral Chapel.