Valerie Ringate (Levens), age 76, passed away on July 18, 2026 surrounded by family. Valerie was born on January 28, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She spent her early years in Minnesota before relocating to Tampa, Florida, in 1985, where she made her home for the remainder of her life.
Throughout the years, Valerie worked in a variety of roles, including positions at Western Electric, Cargill, and Bealls. However, her most important and cherished role was being a mother, wife, and homemaker. She found her greatest joy in caring for her family and creating a loving, welcoming home filled with warmth, comfort, and beautiful memories.
While living in Florida, Valerie spent countless hours at the beach with family and friends, searching for beautiful shells along the shoreline. She loved incorporating the treasures she found into her many craft projects and home décor, bringing pieces of the beach’s beauty into the warm and welcoming spaces she lovingly created. Valerie had a creative spirit and found great joy in painting, designing beautiful floral creations, and decorating her home. Even the simplest tasks became opportunities for her creativity to shine—when she wrapped presents, they were transformed into awe-inspiring works of art that reflected the thoughtfulness and love she put into everything she did. Her artistic talents, generous heart, and eye for beauty brought warmth, love, and happiness to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Valerie is survived by her loving husband, Thomas; her son, Eric; her three stepsons, Gary (Kellie), Allen (Nikki), and Jeff (Allie); and her six beloved grandchildren, Beck, Jake, Brooke, America, Dakota, and Aero. She is also survived by many other loving family members and dear friends. Valerie was a remarkable daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She touched the lives of many through her kindness, creativity, and the love she showed to those around her.
Valerie will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Valerie’s honor.
Condolences
Val was such an amazing mother-in-law and such a wonderfully supportive person. From the moment she welcomed me into the family, she shared so much of herself with me. She taught me countless things over the years, and I will always be grateful for the time we spent together.
I will forever treasure the memories of her decorating for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and every season in between. Val had a remarkable gift for making a house feel warm, beautiful, and full of love.
She never forgot a birthday, holiday, or special occasion, always sending thoughtful cards that made everyone feel remembered and loved. Those small gestures spoke volumes about the caring person she was.
Some of my favorite memories are the days we spent walking the beach together, searching for beautiful shells and enjoying each other’s company. We also loved simply stretching out on the sand, soaking up the Florida sunshine and catching some rays while enjoying long conversations and plenty of laughter. Those simple moments will always hold a special place in my heart.
We also shared so many wonderful vacations together. Whether we were relaxing on the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, enjoying the excitement of Orlando, exploring the charm of Key West, or taking shorter excursions to Tarpon Springs and its famous Sponge Docks or exploring the beauty of Fort De Soto Park, every trip was filled with laughter, adventures, and memories that I will cherish forever. It never really mattered where we went—it was simply being together that made those times so special.
Val was a devoted grandmother who absolutely cherished her grandchildren. Nothing brought a bigger smile to her face than spending time with them. She loved building sandcastles on the beach, watching their imaginations come to life as they decorated them with shells and treasures they found along the shore. Those precious moments reflected the joy and love she found in being their grandmother, and they are memories her grandchildren will carry with them forever.
She also taught me how to make so many delicious meals. She had an incredible talent for taking the simplest ingredients and seasoning them into something truly special. Every meal she prepared was made with love, and somehow she always knew just the right spices to make every dish unforgettable.
I will always smile when I think about our shopping trips together, searching for little treasures and enjoying every moment. It wasn’t just what we found—it was the laughter, conversations, and joy of spending time together that made those outings so meaningful.
Thank you, Val, for your kindness, your generosity, your creativity, and your unwavering love. You enriched my life in so many ways, and I feel incredibly blessed to have called you my mother-in-law. I will miss our conversations, our adventures, and the countless lessons you shared with me. You will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in my heart.