 |
Robert J. Belzung Ft Smith, AR QCWA # 28230 |
Name: Robert J Belzung
Born: 10 Dec 1917
Died: 31 Jul 2012
State (Year) SSN issued: Idaho (Before 1951)
Robert James Belzung, 94 of Fort Smith passed away July 31, 2012 in Fort Smith, Ark. He was born December 10, 1917 to Jules Belzung and Jeanette Weidman. They were immigrants from France, and his father Jules Belzung built the home at 2224 Tilles Avenue in Ft. Smith where Robert Belzung was born. The home still stands today.
About 1921, the family moved to what is now Ballman Elementry School at 1700 South Greenwood Avenue, and purchased property comprising about 20-25 acres to be known as Cedar Grove Dairy or Belzung Dairy. Robert Belzung grew up there assisting along with his brother and sister to the daily milking and delivering the fresh bottled milk to the neighborhoods in the area. About 1947, the property was sold to the city, and Ballman Elementry School was constructed shortly thereafter.
He attended Bell Point, and Darby Jr. High School. Would walk many miles having fun on the Poteau River with his childhood friends.
Soon after graduating from Ft. Smith High School in 1936, Robert Belzung enlisted in the US Navy. He was aboard the USS Mayo, a Benson-class destroyer in the North Atlantic, on May 24, 1941, when the radio transmission came that the HMS Hood, the British battle cruiser had been sunk by the German battleship Bismarck. By the time the USS Mayo arrived on scene, the Bismarck had also been sunk. He served on several other ships, including the USS Hornet, when after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Robert assisted in the rescue and the dreadful removal of US seamen from the damaged and destroyed ships. In April 1942, he was on the USS Hornet when 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were launched beginning General Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, and on 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway in the central Pacific. Only during the later years of his life did he relate these life stories.
After serving in the Navy, Robert Belzung enrolled in Elgin Watchmakers College in Elgin, Illinois. He used his skills learned there to open a small watch repair business in Fort Smith, Ark. in 1949-1951.
He was actively involved in Amateur (Ham) radio from the 1950s. He had an Extra Class License, Ham Radio Operator call letters: N5XLS.
He met his lovely wife, Fern Littrell Belzung, while on leave in Idaho, where they married and returned in 1948 to reside in Fort Smith and raise their family. They purchased a thirty acre farm in Crawford County and had multitude of animals, and three children to raise. Arose every morning at 4:30 to milk the cows and feed various animals. They made butter, sold the cream from the milk, gathered eggs; still made time to hunt and fish and go swimming at Peevee House Ford on Lee Creek.
He was employed at Fort Chaffee during the 1950's as a Fire Control Technician and Optic Repair. When Fort Chaffee closed, Robert went back to school to train for his next occupation at Bergstrom Air Force Base, near Austin, Texas. During the height of the Cold War, Robert was assigned to the missile defense at the SAC Command Center at Bergstrom Air Force Base.
In 1965 he transferred to Batesville, Arkansas as a Civil Service Inspector at Batesville Manufacturing where he retired in 1972. He returned to Fort Smith, and enjoyed his well earned retirement, surrounded by family and friends. One of whom was Hugh A. East- Find A Grave Memorial# 42457851-and his family that visited each other on a regular basis.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Fern Littrell Belzung of the home. Three children: Sharon Louise Stewart and husband Raymond Stewart of Ft. Smith, Robert James Belzung Jr. and wife Nelda Dodd Belzung of Bogata, Texas, William Ernest Belzung and wife Salvacion Monta Belzung of Barling, Ark., Grandchildren: Renee Falloran Belzung of Ft. Smith, Andrew Littrell Belzung of Barling, Ark., Bobbie Jo Cate and husband Eddie Cate of Dennison, Texas, Moniquie Belzung of Sherman, Texas, Lyle Dodd of Bogata, Texas. Great Grand Child, Taylor Marie Peterson of Dennison, Texas, niece Paula Jones of La Jolla, California.
Robert Belzung was predeceased by: his parents: Jules Belzung and Jeanette Weidman. A Grandchild, Stephen Monta Belzung, a brother, Paul Belzung, and sister, Beatrice Belzung.
Graveside service will be held at Gracelawn Memorial Park, Van Buren, Arkansas at 9:00 AM Friday, August 3, 2012.
Pallbearers will be: Raymond Stewart, Sr. Raymond Stewart, Jr. Jack Garrett Dennis Cancel
Visitation is at Lewis Funeral Home, 4817 Kelley Highway, Ft. Smith, Ark., Thursday, August 2, 2012 between 5:30pm and 7:00pm.
