Willobelle (Hampton) Valentine

Willobelle (Hampton) Valentine was called home to our Lord on Friday, May 12, 2023.

She was born on Aug. 3, 1935, to Leagon and Mildred Hampton. Willobelle was a unique and caring individual who touched the lives of all who knew her.

She was raised in the Wynoochee Valley, outside of Montesano and there she met a young man named Karl Valentine. They quickly became friends, and that friendship grew into young love. She married Karl Valentine on June 21, 1952, before he shipped out to serve in the Korean War. Karl passed away in 2008. Together they raised two sons, William David, who preceded her in death in 1987, and Robert Dale who survives in Montesano, Washington.

After she graduated from Montesano High school, she was employed at Woolworths department store in Aberdeen, Washington and later worked for Kenworth Northwest in Aberdeen before becoming a bookkeeper for Karl in his log truck hauling business.

Willobelle was known for her famous cookies and her hand-crocheted potholders. She and Karl hosted river campouts for the local NA club for many years and were fondly known as “Mom and Dad” to a huge number of young men and women in Grays Harbor County. She was an avid birdwatcher and collector of PBR’s (Pretty Black Rocks), both interests that she passed on to her grandchildren. Willobelle spent many years square dancing with Karl in the Harbor Haylofters dance club as well as being a main fixture in the Wynoochee Women’s Club.

Karl and Willobelle moved to SE Alaska in 1978 and spent many happy years in the Valentine Logging camp on Prince of Wales Island. Willobelle enjoyed the morning walks and the many birds. She fished and canoed, regularly, and became a master at smoking the fish and venison that they harvested.

After retiring from working in Alaska, she and Karl moved to Fawn Lake in Shelton, Washington in the late 1980s and regularly travelled to Palm Springs as snowbirds. Willobelle participated in a “Knit Group” in Fawn Lake and spent many hours walking around the lake and visiting with other residents. She attended the Elma Church of God, sharing the Good News with many people. Her final years were spent at Riverside Place, in Hoquiam, Washington where she had many friends and enjoyed the kind and generous staff.

Willobelle is survived by a brother Dan and a sister Linda, her son Robert, his wife Mary and their children, Chris McCormack, Mike Jandl and Jessica (Valentine) Lawrence, as well as her daughter-in-law, Pamelia (Denise) and William’s three children, Nathan Valentine, Jeremy Valentine, and Rebecca (Valentine) Sanchez.She was enormously proud of her 14 great-grandchildren and would proudly display their pictures and artwork on her refrigerator.

Willobelle’s celebration of lifesaervice will take place at the Montesano Church of God on June 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Donations may be given to the Arthritis Foundation: info.arthritis.org or the Elma Church of God.