Florence "Flo" Grace Randlett Curnutt

Florence “Flo” Grace Randlett Curnutt September 19, 1931 - December 27, 2022 Flo Curnutt, born Florence Grace Randlett, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Renown South Meadows Hospital in Reno Nevada. She is now reunited with her beloved brother, Raymond, who was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima at the tragically young age of 19 years old, and her parents, James and Effie Randlett. Florence was born during the Great Depression at Texas Methodist Hospital in Dallas, TX on Sept. 19, 1931. Her formative years were greatly influenced by the resourcefulness and tenacity of her parents and community, character traits she carried with her throughout the rest of her life. After graduating high school in January 1949, Florence attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) in Denton, TX. She graduated in June 1953 with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Education. In 1965 Florence earned her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at California State University, San Francisco. Following her education, Florence married Robert H. Curnutt on Aug. 20, 1954. She served as a Medical Services Naval Officer at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA from 1954-1955. Florence and Robert welcomed their first child, Harry, on Oct. 25, 1955, followed by their daughter, Virginia (Ginger) on Aug. 2, 1957. Florence and Robert divorced in 1962. As a certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Florence was a fierce advocate for students with disabilities. She worked at San Jose City College as a Counselor and Instructor for students with disabilities from 1973-1999. Florence also worked in private practice as an expert witness for several prominent attorneys in the Santa Clara Valley for Social Security Appeals Commission. She was a Registered marriage, family, and child counselor. Florence completed two sabbaticals in Denmark focusing on disabilities in the 1980s. She held multiple leadership positions with the National Rehabilitation Association and the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA) and was a founding member of the Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Commission, on which she served two five-year terms. In 1990, she supported and lobbied for the passing of the disability act before Congress. She also participated in a march from the White House to Congress in support of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and in 1995 Florence was nominated for the National Woman of Achievement Award. Florence’s professional endeavors led her to industry conferences worldwide, but she continued her travels well beyond her retirement in 1999. Ultimately, Florence visited seven continents. Her favorite trips were with family and friends. Her son Harry accompanied Florence on a private tour of Iwo Jima and Guam. Her daughter Ginger accompanied Florence on a European trip along with five trips to Hong Kong, five trips to the Hawaiian Islands and an Alaskan Cruise which included her granddaughter, Rochelle. Florence and Ginger bought a condo in Incline Village (Lake Tahoe) where they spent many holidays, and vacations over 21 years. Florence loved going on vacation with her grandchildren Rochelle and James to Texas, Hawaii, and Tahoe. Rochelle went on a cruise with Florence starting in Lisbon to the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic to Brazil and ending in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. In 2006 Florence’s grandson James went to England with her to visit cousins and to take a family canal boat trip. This was a great bonding experience for all. Many of Florence’s friends and relatives enjoyed time with her at her Hawaii timeshare and made many wonderful memories. Family and friends remember Florence as a thoughtful, generous woman who gave selflessly to her family and community and stood her ground on issues she cared about. Florence was a warrior and fought to the end, she never gave up and was doing pool aquatics at age 91 in her backyard pool in Reno NV during the summer of 2022 where she lived with her daughter Ginger the last five years. She is survived by her children Harry and Ginger, grandchildren Rochelle and James, and great-grandchildren Kaleb, Holden, and Harper. She happily assumed the role of Grammy to Andrew Burbank and helped take care of him when he was an infant. Andrew is now 16 years old and continued to call and visit her often. Florence had many cousins that she was very close to. Florence was preceded in death by her parents James and Effie Randlett and her brother Raymond. Her daughter- in- law Vicki Curnutt passed away 1/31/23. Memorial services celebrating her well-lived life will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church in San Jose, CA Feb. 20, 2023, and a military honors service at Edgewood cemetery in Lancaster, TX, Feb. 22, 2023 Memorial Donations may be given to: Texas Women’s University Foundation Memo: Occupational Therapy Support Fund in memory of Florence (Randlett) Curnutt PO Box 425618 Denton, TX 76204