Alice Louise Weeks

Alice Louise Garvin (née Kimmel) age 86, died peacefully at home on August 19, 2024 with loved ones by her side, her daughter Julia Noreen Adams, her son Belton Lamar Garvin Jr. and his wife Rhonda (Padgett) who is like a daughter to Alice and her steady companion for the last eight years.

Alice was born on August 9,1938 in Carnegie, Pennsylvania to her parents Ottillie (Schreiber) and Lorenz Kimmel and her three-year-old brother Loren, who she adored and looked up to throughout her life, especially when Alice was four years old and they sadly lost their mother. When Alice was six years old, her father remarried and she was blessed with her second mom Julia Bates and a four-year-old sister Mary Ann, who she shared a life-long closeness with and who she thought and spoke of most in her last days. Alice graduated from West Allegheny High School in 1956 and became a key punch operator (a delivery system for data and programs on early computers) at Pittsburgh Plate Glass. She was always so proud of her technical skills.

As a young adult, Alice had wonderful roommates in Pittsburgh, especially Gracie Haley and Patty Ashbury. When Gracie moved to Los Angeles, California with her Navy husband Roger, Alice and Patty decided to go too. Alice shared countless adventures and laughs with Gracie and Patty who are like sisters to her and aunts to Alice’s children. While in California working as a key punch operator for Anchor Hocking Glass, Alice often picked up lunch for the women in the office because no one else wanted to go to the factory cafeteria. It was there that she met and fell head over heels (probably literally, Alice always joked about how clumsy she was) in love with the man she would marry and spend 28 years with, Belton Lamar Garvin, Sr.

Belton Sr. brought with him another welcome addition to Alice’s life, a three-year-old daughter Dana Gayle. Alice and Belton’s early years were spent at home, in the wilderness, or on the race track. They moved their family to Georgia, Wisconsin, and finally Jacksonville and then Middleburg, Florida. Always alongside his brother John Garvin and his wife Debbie. She was blessed with nieces and nephews who always made her laugh and feel loved, Loren and Donna Kimmel’s children Michael, Patrick, Jim, and Tracy; Mary Ann and Don Moore’s children Sheila, John and Jeff; Leon and Judy Garvin’s children Debbie, Tammy, and Carla; and John and Debbie Garvin’s children Gina, Clay, Julie, and Jaime. Alice spent her youth in the Catholic Church and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Belton’s invitation. She participated as a leader in the women’s Relief Society, and child and teen programs and spent countless days participating with her children in church and sports activities. Alice loved to volunteer her time and especially enjoyed serving patients at St Vincent Hospital in Middleburg Fl.

Alice was a force of nature with a will as strong as her heart. She loved Giraffes because they were tall and gentle like her and not afraid to stick their necks out when necessary. Alice really enjoyed thrifting and always said “Only a fool pays full price.” She loved to listen to Ed Sheeren and Celine Dion and relished beating everyone at her favorite game, Skipbo. It was perfectly fitting that she always wore Clinique Happy perfume, because she had a witty and unfailing sense of humor. She could always have fun even when there was work to do and make others laugh even when things were hard. Alice was always there for her loved ones with a listening ear, a helping hand and a warm hug. She opened her home and heart to everyone she knew, including two lovable foreign exchange students Iñigo and Patty. And her greatest joy of all was spending time with her six grandchildren Erin, Brandon, and Brett Watkins; Jessica, Jake, and Alex(Johnny) Adams; and her great granddaughters Ansleigh and Elena Rader and watching them jump in puddles and climb trees and all grow up strong and happy like their Mama Alice/Grammy.

Alice was preceded in death by Ottillie and Lorenz Kimmel, Julia Bates, Loren and Donna Kimmel, MaryAnn Moore, Patrick Kimmel, and Belton Garvin Sr. She is survived by Dana and Don Watkins, Belton and Rhonda (Padgett) Garvin, Julia Noreen and Jim Adams, Erin and Joey Rader, Brandon and Lindsey Watkins, Brett Watkins; Jessica, Jake, and Alex(Johnny) Adams; and Ansleigh and Elena Rader.

Alice will be buried with Belton Sr. at Holly Hill Memorial Park, 3601 Old Jennings Road in Middleburg, FL on September 6, 2024 at 1 pm.