Forrest “Sam” Belote

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Mr. Forrest Samuel “Sam” Belote, age 84, of Onancock and Annapolis, Md., passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. He was born in Onancock on Sept. 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 of Wilmington Del.; son, Doug Belote (Rob Landino), of 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, Neb.

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 health care. 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 St., Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. https://curealz.org/giving/donate

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