VIRGINIA BEACH—Earl Valentine Branche, 81, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Laskin Road Chapel, Virginia Beach. A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at First Baptist Church of Virginia Beach at 35th Street and Holly Road.

Burial will be in Ivor Cemetery.

An Ivor native, Mr. Branche spent many years in the hospitality industry as a restaurant owner and worked at upscale restaurants in the Lower Peninsula area. He retired as Maitre d’hotel of Antiquities Restaurant in Norfolk.