Alice Louise (“Lupe”) Olmsted Burt passed away peacefully on April 11, 2023, at the age of 97. Lupe was born in Des Moines, Iowa on June 19, 1925, to George and Virginia Olmsted where she met her future husband, Wallace (Wally) Burt in 1938. From 1939 to 1943 she attended the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia and beginning in 1943 she attended Smith College in Northhampton, Massachusetts, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1946 after completing her studies in three years. During World War II, Lupe’s parents moved to the Washington DC area because Lupe’s father, a graduate of West Point, had been recalled to active service at the Pentagon and China. Wally returned from overseas service in 1945 and they were married in June 1946. In 1959, after a ten-year career in the reinsurance business, Wally and Lupe decided that they should try and build their own business. Wally quit his job, borrowed $35,000, and moved Lupe and their three children to Ormond Beach. They chose Ormond Beach because it was on the water, it had a good climate, the cost of living was low, and, at the time, Daytona Beach had good airline service to New York and Chicago where most
of Wally's clients lived. The reinsurance business they started specialized in crop insuranceand the reinsurance of individual property risks. Wally was the reinsurance technician and Lupe was the chief accounting officer. They worked full-time as a team for 30 years. Lupe was a trendsetter and a powerful partner who understood the value of communication and business relationships. Lupe and Wally sold the business to their children and retired to enjoy traveling and their summers at their 300-acre farm near Cashiers, North Carolina. While working full time, Lupe also took to heart her belief that one should give back to their community and make it a better place. She was the Founder and first President of the Ormond Beach Historical Trust. With her guidance, the Historical Trust pushed for the restoration of the Casements (the winter home of John D. Rockefeller) in Ormond Beach. This effort resulted in a grant from the Federal Government of $449,000 for the restoration of the Casements. The Casements were opened in 1979 and she was appointed to the Casements Foundation Board. The Casements has served the people of Volusia County as a place for cultural, educational, historical, artistic and civic activities ever since. She was instrumental in fundraising for the Florida House in Washington, DC with Rhea Chiles, wife of Governor Lawton Chiles. The Florida House was established in 1971 as a place for Florida residents to relax during their visits to their Senators and Representatives or sightseeing with their families. Florida House is still active today. She served as President of the Garden Club of Halifax Country and was the Zone VIII representative on
the Garden Club of America Interchange Fellowship Committee. She was Chairman of the Historical Preservation Advisory Board for the City of Ormond Beach, a member of the Birthplace of Speed Advisory Board and a member of the Air and Water Pollution Committee of Ormond Beach. She was a Board Member of the Museum of Arts and Sciences and helped raise funds for the Atlantic Center for the Arts. She and Wally played significant roles in the creation of Ormond Beach Memorial Hospital (now AdventHealth Daytona Beach), in the purchase of the old Ellinor Village Golf Club (now Oceanside Country Club), and in bringing the London Symphony Orchestra to Daytona Beach for several summers in the 1960’s. She enjoyed tennis and golf. She was devoted to her family and appreciated the fact that her three children lived in Ormond Beach and could see her on a regular basis. In the last few years, she also cherished the weekly dinners she had with her OWLS – the Old Widow Ladies – Katie Dodd, Babs Foster, Evelyn Lynn, Sandy Rossmeyer, and Connie Treloar. Lupe was a woman of distinction – the hallmark of elegance, grace, and character, and revered for her poise. Her energy, wit, and charm had a way of lifting spirits whenever she entered a room. She was an
outstanding role model to many and left an indelible mark on all she encountered. Lupe was predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years Wallace J. Burt, Jr., her younger brother GeorgeJr., her younger brother George Olmsted, Jr., her grandson Michael Wolfe, her grandson Marshall Wolfe, and her great grandson, Eric DeVriese, Jr. She is survived by her children, Wallace Lockwood Burt (Ann), David A. Burt (Pat), and Virginia L. Wolfe (Mark), by her grandchildren Christopher Burt (Elizabeth), Casey Rivers (David), Melissa DeVries (Eric), Thomas Burt (Nina), and Matthew Wolfe (Moriah), and by her great grandchildren Patrick Burt, Sarah Burt, Carolina Rivers, Caitlyn Rivers, Henry Rivers, Annamarie DeVriese, Henry DeVriese, Anabella Burt, Siena Burt, Teagan Burt, Carver Wolfe, Briar Wolfe, Isaiah Wolfe and Logan Deters. She is also survived by her brother, Jerauld Olmsted (Giselle), a niece (Victoria Olmsted) and two nephews (Scott Olmsted and Jerauld Olmsted, Jr.). In addition to family, Lupe is survived by her dear friend and helper, Sheila Wiley, who has been a member of the family for over 50 years. The family would like
to give special thanks to Lupe’s caregivers Latisa Mott, Catina Thomas, Sequina Gilmore, Shakia Perry, Mercedes Kirksey, Cevi Suggs, Felicia White and Anika Robinson for their kind and loving care for the past two and one-half years, and to Fay Kalteux, who arranged for these wonderful caregivers. Funeral Services are scheduled for April 24 at 11 am at St. James Episcopal Church at 38 South Halifax Drive in Ormond Beach, Florida, followed by a reception at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens across the street immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Saint James Episcopal Church, Ormond Beach Historical Society, or AdventHealth Daytona Beach Foundation.
Published in Daytona Beach News-Journal
April 18, 2023