Belik, Charles passed away on January 30, 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the age of 92. Charles, or Chuck, as he was most often known, was born in Royalton, Illinois on August 27, 1921 to Charles and Martha (Molnar) Belik. Orphaned at a young age, Chuck was raised in children's homes and with foster families in St. Louis and northern Missouri. He entered service in the US Navy on July 3, 1942, and was commissioned as an officer in 1944. He was stationed in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant in August, 1946. He then attended the University of Missouri and returned to the St. Louis area where he worked for National Cash Register and Mallinkrodt Chemical Works. On June 21, 1952, he married Harriett (Hattie) Bedell of Webster Groves, Missouri, who died in 1997. Chuck and Hattie had two sons who survive him, Daniel Charles of San Francisco, California and Joel Lister of Manitou Springs, Colorado. He taught English at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis County from 1955 through 1982, and, in September, 1960, achieved a Masters of Arts degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis. Chuck was an outstanding bridge player, fisherman, outdoorsman, gardener, educator, husband and father. He had a passionate interest in politics and was one of the first union leaders among Lindbergh teachers. His keen mind was always searching. He was an active volunteer at Second Baptist Church, Boy Scouts, public schools, and a variety of other organizations and causes to benefit his community. He was fondly remembered by his students at Lindbergh, some of whom sought him out years after they were in one of his classes. In 2008, at the age of 86, he published a book of stories, The Writings of Charles Belik that humorously drew on his background and experiences. Sisters Mary Dohanich of Columbia, Illinois and Ann Durham of Sydney, Australia and brothers George Popovich of South Carolina and John Belik of Royalton, Illinois also preceded him in death. Services: A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on March 25, 2014 at Second Baptist Church, 9030 Clayton Road in St. Louis.


Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Mar. 9, 2014