Dolores Watson Samons Harvell, 90 years old and a long-time resident of the Washington, D.C. area, passed away on 22 September 2024. She was born 19 October 1933, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the old Womack Army Hospital. Her father was Joseph Albert Samons, a veteran of four tours in the US Army, including service in the Persian Gulf Command during World War II.

Dolores, widow of Joe Lee Harvell, Jr., Colonel, USAF, is survived by four daughters -- Deborah Albright, Jennie Harvell, Julia Edwards and Kimberly O`Donoghue -- five grandchildren -- Emily Albright, Daniel Albright, Christopher Albright, Sarah Merchant de Rojas, and Dylan Meyers – and five great grand-children – Logan, Caden, Noah, Christian, and Josué.

Dolores was a student at Western High School when she met her future husband, who was then attending Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service. After their marriage in 1953 and upon Lee's commissioning in the United States Air Force, they began a whirlwind life touring the world: Denver, Libya, New York City, San Francisco, Turkey, South Korea, and several tours in the D.C. area.

During their four-year tour in Ankara, Dolores taught English as a second language at the Turkish Army Language School. In later years, she became a leading REALTOR/Associate Broker in Prince George's County, Maryland. She was a member of the Southern Prince George's County, Maryland Business Professional Women's Organization. After her twenty-eight-year career, Dolores and Lee followed their dreams and relocated to Florida.

For the last three years, Dolores lived in Washington state.

Dolores was a member of and taught Sunday school at the Suntree United Methodist Church in Viera, FL. She was also a member of the Red Hat Angels of the church as well as the church book club. She wrote and published several poems and other creative works.

Dolores was the family genealogist, taking the generations back to the beginning of our new nation and beyond; she even had mitochondrial DNA test results dating the family back some 3000 years to a Briton Celtic grandmother.

She was a member of several genealogical and heritage societies, including The Huguenot Society, Jamestown Society, The Indian Wars Society, Colonial Dames of America, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, War of 1812 Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The title of Storyteller is now bestowed on her descendants.

Funeral service for Dolores will be held on February 12, 2024 at 11:00am at Everly Funeral Home in Falls Church, VA.

Graveside service will be held on February 12, 2024 at 2:00pm at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please give a memorial gift to the Memorial Gift | American Diabetes Association in memory of Dolores S. Harvell.