GAINESVILLE - Dr. Herbert Edward “Herb” Valentine, Jr. died Tuesday, January 6, 2009, at his residence.
Born on August 25, 1917, in Valentines, Va., he graduated from Randolph Macon College in Ashland and The University of Virginia School of Medicine. He joined the Navy in 1943 as a medical officer and was assigned to the first Marine division in the South Pacific, serving in combat in Okinawa and Peleliu. He returned to complete his residency at Emory, and later moved to Gainesville to begin private practice. He admitted one of the first patients to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Mr. Valentine practiced medicine in Gainesville for 43 years and served as Chief of Staff of the Medical Center and was named Civitan Man of the Year in 1963. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club and the St. Paul United Methodist Church. He was a founding member of the Chattahoochee Country Club and of the Christian Education Center, now Centerpoint.
He was passionate in the love of his family, the care of his patients, and Gainesville High School athletics. He attended thousands of practices and games, and was faithfully trusted to be on the sidelines. In later years, he and his wife, Bonnelle, through their love of land and farming created Valentine Farms in Pendergrass, becoming national leaders in the breeding of Angus cattle. Through this adventure, they developed lifelong friendships with cattlemen locally and nationally.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Bonnelle Lawson Valentine, Gainesville, sons and daughter-in-law, Thomas E. Valentine, Gross Pointe, Mich., Richard L. and Cherry Valentine, Gainesville, and Dr. C. Michael Valentine Shannon Valentine, Lynchburg, Va.; grandchildren Leigh, Brad, Catherine, Jack and Brooke; sister and brother-in-law, Anne Valentine and Don Pfeiffer, Cammarillo, Calif.
A memorial service was held Saturday, January 10, at the St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gainesville High School Athletic Fund, P.O. Box 3141, Gainesville, Ga. 30503, St. Paul United Methodist Church Building Fund, 404 Washington Street, Gainesville, Ga. 30501,
or a favorite charity of one's choice.
Mason & Ward Funeral Home, Gainesville, was in charge of arrangements.