Dolores Horeis Vail

The world lost a beautiful woman with a kind-hearted soul and a great sense of humor on Saturday, October 10, 2015 when Dolores Horeis Vail, age 86, went home to be with the Lord. She was surrounded by her family and passed peacefully at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. following an unexpected brain aneurysm. Taken from us sooner than we wanted, we think heaven needed an energetic and fun soul to spice things up. Heaven will definitely get that with Dolores. She was born in South Norfolk, Virginia to parents Jacob and Everell Horeis. She graduated from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Dolores married the love of her life, Benjamin “Bob” Vail July 23, 1948 in Chesapeake, Virginia and spent 58 wonderful years together. Together Bob and Dee were founders of Vail Marine Service and Supply in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dolores was an incredible mother to her two children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and everyone’s best friend. She was a member of the Bethany Christian Church in New Bern, North Carolina. She was an active member of the Golden Age group in New Bern, and enjoyed taking many trips with them including a recent trip to Ireland.

Dolores is survived by her daughter, Kathy Vail Ratliff and her husband Randy Ratliff of California, Maryland; her son, Michael Vail and his wife Vickie, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; sister, Joann H. Jones of Virginia Beach, Virginia; five grandchildren, Jim Mizelle, Chris Mizelle, Nicole Vail Flowe, Michelle Martell, and Amanda Poss; seven great-grandchildren, Alana Mizelle, Nathan Mizelle, Austin Pack, Kristyn Morton, Alyssa Martell, Jessie Jones and Joshua Poss; several nieces and nephews, and a cousin Betty Watkins Gasch, and many close friends. The smile on her face, her actions, and her words highlighted a life full of faith, compassion, personal integrity, and benevolence. The impact she has left on our lives will only intensify with time. Dolores will be missed by many and remembered as an inspirational woman who positively and graciously enjoyed life, though she (and everyone else) wished it was longer. Visitation will be Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm at the Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Rd in Virginia Beach, VA with funeral service at 2:30 pm. Burial will follow at Rosewood Memorial Park.