William R. "Bill" Valentine died at Gainesville on August 28, 2011. He was born on November 25, 1926, in Richmond, Indiana, to Edward John and Anna Richards Valentine. He grew up in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School.
Bill was a World War II Army veteran, serving in Italy. Returning, he worked for Belden Manufacturing Company from 1947 to 1960, in the Richmond plant, the Chicago office, and as a salesman and regional manager in the Southeast. 　In the meantime, he graduated from Florida Southern College in 1951. 　He left Belden to join Genuine Parts Company, based in Atlanta, in 1960 and worked in management positions in Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, and California. He was a vice president of Genuine Parts Company for twenty years, retiring as Senior Vice President for Sales in 1992.
Growing up and long the way, Bill was an Eagle Scout, a little league baseball manager, a Boy's Club basketball coach, and an Episcopal Church vestry man, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Greater Atlanta. 　He was a Junior Achievement Director for 16 years and also was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA).
Bill is survived by a close family, including the former Joanne Nelms, his wife of 56 years, sons and daughters-in-law Steven Richards Valentine (Susan) of Alexandria, Virginia, and David Valentine (Dana) of Gainesville, and daughter and son-in-law Christina Valentine Adams (Terry) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as ten favorite grandchildren, Daniel Valentine (Mary) of DeFuniack Springs, Florida, John William Valentine (Lindsey), Mary Valentine Jones and Michael Valentine of Gainesville, Christina Valentine of Fairfax, Virginia, William R. Valentine II (Natalie) of Springfield, Virginia, Steven R. Valentine, Jr. (Lyndsey) of Alexandria, Virginia, Thomas Valentine and Diana Valentine of Alexandria, Virginia, and Joanna Adams of Albuquergue, two step-granddaughters, Kindra Shenoy of Shohomish, Washington, and Shanna Hornsby of Roswell, Georgia, and great-grandchildren. 　Also surviving is older brother, George C. Valentine (Betsy) of Novi, Michigan. 　
A Celebrations of life service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday August 30, 2011 at the Lakewood Baptist Church of Gainesville,Ga.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, 1 Positive Place, SE, Gainesville, Georgia
30564.
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel of Gainesville,Ga
989 Riverside Dr. 30501. 770-297-6200 in charge of arrangements
online condolances may be made at memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
