Bob Belson, 94

Robert S. Belson, age 94 of Athens, died Wednesday Jan. 1, 2014 at the Birches in Leonidas where he has resided the past six months. He was born near Hastings, MI on Feb. 27, 1919 the only child of Charles A. and Blanche P. (Workman) Belson. Bob graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1938. He was married to Mable Maxine Hallam on Jan 7, 1939 in Rome City, IN. They resided on a farm on Summit Road near Mendon before moving to a their farm near Athens in 1951. Bob was a former member of the Wakeshma Baptist Church where he served on the church board, and the board of the Maple Grove School. Later in life he attended and was active at the Factoryville Bible Church. Bob enjoyed travelling across the United States, and was honored to be a member of the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame.

Bob is survived by two sons, Charles (Janet) Belson of Mendon and Douglas (Charlene) Belson of Osseo; six grandchildren, Tammy (Dave) Parks, Robert (Laurie) Belson, Greg (Shelly) Millard, Timothy (Sheri) Belson, Richard (Denise) Belson, and Christopher Belson; seventeen great grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife in 2005.

The family will receive friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday Jan. 5, 2014 at the Factoryville Bible Church, 33650 Factoryville Road, Athens, MI 49011. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Sunday followed by a social gathering at the church. Burial will take place in Burr Oak Cemetery in Athens. It is suggested that memorials be directed to either the Factoryville Bible Church, the Child Evangelism Foundation, or the Birches AFCH in Leonidas. Assistance was provided by the Eickhoff Funeral Home of Mendon. An online register is available at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com