Sam Belote

Forrest Samuel "Sam"  Belote, age 84, of Onancock, VA and Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 16, 2023. He was born in Onancock, VA on September 27, 1938 to the late Sadie and Forrest Belote.

He happily joins his wife, Paula Belote in heaven. Surviving Sam is his daughter, Terry Belote (Wilmington DE); son, Doug Belote (Rob Landino) (Alexandria VA); sisters-in-law, Dorothy Culver and Charlott Conniff. 

Sam graduated from Onancock High School then joined the United States Air Force serving as Private First Class in Omaha NE.

After his service, he returned to the shore in 1962 where he worked as an electric linesman retiring from the ANEC. He loved helping friends and neighbors throughout his community. During his time as a linesman traveling the shore, he saw personally the needs of his community, especially as it related to healthcare. This inspired him to be a driving force to help establish Eastern Shore Rural Health System where he also served on its board.

He was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church in Parksley. Over the years, he selflessly gave his time and talents to his church and helped launch and was honored to support the Shore’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Sam enjoyed gardening, writing poetry, woodworking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, airplanes, music and his two Golden Retrievers, Bingo and Rascal. He loved to travel with family across the U.S. Canada and Europe as well as to Australia. Asked once if he had a key piece of advice that served him well, he said, “Never solve a nickel problem with a million-dollar solution.”

Always wanting to help his family and others, he donated his body for dementia research. The family will gather privately to celebrate Sam’s life. Per his wishes, Sam’s ashes will be scattered with Paula’s on the Chesapeake near Onancock creek this summer.

Donations may be made in Sam’s honor to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington Street, Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. (https://curealz.org/giving/donate).

And God will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn,

make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand. 

~ Michael Joncas

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