Terrance Valentine

Terrance Valentine – September 12, 1945 – August 6, 2017: "My get up and go, got  up and went."

Born in Warren, Pennsylvania, Terry or “TV”, as he was known by his friends and family, was the only child of Hazel (Smith) and Lawrence Valentine.  As an infant, Terry suffered the ravages of Meningitis, which resulted in what for others might have been insurmountable challenges.  Terry handled those challenges with courage and disarming charm.  TV found joy in music and took pride in playing several instruments “by ear.” He was an avid blue grass aficionado, attending concerts and interacting with entertainers all across the United States.  Terry possessed an inexplicable affinity for owls and collected so many replicas of the bird that he referred to his home as “The Owl’s Nest” .  Terry also loved baseball and amassed an impressive collection of baseball memorabilia.

As a young man, TV worked for the family-owned business in Pennsylvania.  When the business was sold, he and his parents moved to Florida.  After his parents passed, Terry lived alone.  He volunteered at NuHope Thrift Store and entertained people at Sebring’s Senior Center and The Palms of Sebring Retirement Community. “That’s about it!”

Terry is survived by several cousins and their families and by very special friends, Karon Kaminski of Windsor, Ontario, and the Gomez family of Sebring.  Virginia Cummins and Curt Jenkins had served as Terry’s guardians since his mother died.  They were assisted by Joseph and Ann Fila during his final months, who made him as happy and comfortable as possible.  Cousins Dawn Odde and her husband Bob, and Sheila Braswell; nephew Sean Linneborn; and friends Rodrigo, Selena Sr., Selena Jr., and Azusena Gomez were invaluable in that effort. “We’re all better than nothin’, good for somethin’, but for what we don’t know!”.

A memorial service will be held in January, 2018, to include family and his “snowbird” friends: "The good Lord willin and the crick don't rise ".