Lola Belle Dorsey

June 18, 1939 - September 5, 2018

Lola Belle Dorsey left this world, surrounded by her immediate family, on September 5, 2018, in the aftermath of a stroke. She died peacefully, following a life of caring for and giving to others; hers was a legacy of accomplishment, energy, and love.

Lola Belle, the daughter of Lola Mae Young and Guy Young II, was born in rural Arkansas in 1939. Her childhood was spent largely in Richmond, California, where her family moved soon after her birth. Her adult life revolved around her longtime home in Milpitas, California.

She is survived by son Paul Dorsey of San Francisco (Samantha) and granddaughter Ella DorseyWeld, siblings Guy Young III, Juanita Whetstone, and Willie Young, her former husband, John Dorsey, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents.

Lola Belle’s professional life was one of accomplishment. She held a B.S. and an M.S. in Nursing from San Jose State. She was a long-time school nurse, primarily in the Milpitas Unified School District, and took particular joy in working with students with special needs. Active in the National Black Nurses Association, she was also the resident nurse for many years at a summer camp for students with diabetes. In her later years, she was the main caretaker for her mother, who lived well into her nineties.

Lola Belle attacked life with energy. A competitive athlete in her youth, she excelled at both softball and bowling, and bowled regularly into her seventies. She was a peripatetic and joyous traveler, not only in the U.S., but in South America and Africa.

Her energies were displayed in her many meticulous crafts, from sewing, to quilting, to crocheting, to beautiful calligraphy. She was a woman of many talents.

Lola Belle was, finally, a woman of love. She embraced her family and friends, her church community, her work, and the world with love, acceptance, and joy. She was generous of spirit and a spark of light to all who knew her.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 22 at from 1-5 PM at the Gala Event Hall at 37270 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made in Lola Belle Dorsey’s memory to the National Black Nurses Association, 8630 Fenton Street, #910, Silver Spring, MD 20910.