On February 3, 2013 of Baltimore, MD, Maj.Francis Charles Belcher, USAF, (Ret) died at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Charlotte Hall, MD after celebrating his 90th birthday with family and friends.
Born on February 2, 1923 in Cassandra, PA, Francis spent his childhood traveling between military installations with his parents, M/TSgt Benjamin Belcher, USMC, and Edith McCord-Belcher.
After graduating from Calvert Hall College High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1943, rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant while serving as an Avionics Technician during the Pacific Island Campaigns of World War II.
Upon returning stateside after the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Gladys I. Vantaman, and then entered the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor-of-Arts degree in History. In 1951, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer with the Office of Special Investigations, his career included assignments throughout the world to include Spain, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. In 1968 he retired as a Major and returned to the National Capitol Region where he joined the Defense Investigative Service as a Special Agent. After 20-years of distinguished service, he retired from civil service in1988. In retirement, he remained an avid golfer, a voracious reader, a devout Roman Catholic and a steadfast friend to all he met. A loving patriarch, a patriot, and selfless public servant, Francis was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66-years, Gladys I. Belcher, his daughter and son-in-law Pamela and Richard Schoessler of Oxford, PA, his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and CWO5 (Ret.) Robert Gaffney, USA, of Jonesboro, GA, and his son and daughter-in-law Col (Ret.) Michael and Susan Belcher, USMC, of Stafford, VA. He was also beloved by his six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Holy Family Church, Temple Hills, MD with internment to follow at the Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time are to be determined and will be announced separately. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Francis' name to The Wounded Warrior Project.(A link to the site is located above).
Please leave your thoughts and memoires by signing the guestbook located below. Once we recieve confirmation from Arlington National Cemetery, the dates and times of services and interment will be posted here and an obituary will run in the Washington Post.
Born on February 2, 1923 in Cassandra, PA, Francis spent his childhood traveling between military installations with his parents, M/TSgt Benjamin Belcher, USMC, and Edith McCord-Belcher.
After graduating from Calvert Hall College High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1943, rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant while serving as an Avionics Technician during the Pacific Island Campaigns of World War II.
Upon returning stateside after the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Gladys I. Vantaman, and then entered the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor-of-Arts degree in History. In 1951, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer with the Office of Special Investigations, his career included assignments throughout the world to include Spain, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. In 1968 he retired as a Major and returned to the National Capitol Region where he joined the Defense Investigative Service as a Special Agent. After 20-years of distinguished service, he retired from civil service in1988. In retirement, he remained an avid golfer, a voracious reader, a devout Roman Catholic and a steadfast friend to all he met. A loving patriarch, a patriot, and selfless public servant, Francis was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66-years, Gladys I. Belcher, his daughter and son-in-law Pamela and Richard Schoessler of Oxford, PA, his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and CWO5 (Ret.) Robert Gaffney, USA, of Jonesboro, GA, and his son and daughter-in-law Col (Ret.) Michael and Susan Belcher, USMC, of Stafford, VA. He was also beloved by his six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Holy Family Church, Temple Hills, MD with internment to follow at the Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time are to be determined and will be announced separately. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Francis' name to The Wounded Warrior Project.(A link to the site is located above).
Please leave your thoughts and memoires by signing the guestbook located below. Once we recieve confirmation from Arlington National Cemetery, the dates and times of services and interment will be posted here and an obituary will run in the Washington Post.
On February 3, 2013 of Baltimore, MD, Maj.Francis Charles Belcher, USAF, (Ret) died at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Charlotte Hall, MD after celebrating his 90th birthday with family and friends.
Born on February 2, 1923 in Cassandra, PA, Francis spent his childhood traveling between military installations with his parents, M/TSgt Benjamin Belcher, USMC, and Edith McCord-Belcher.
After graduating from Calvert Hall College High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1943, rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant while serving as an Avionics Technician during the Pacific Island Campaigns of World War II.
Upon returning stateside after the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Gladys I. Vantaman, and then entered the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor-of-Arts degree in History. In 1951, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer with the Office of Special Investigations, his career included assignments throughout the world to include Spain, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. In 1968 he retired as a Major and returned to the National Capitol Region where he joined the Defense Investigative Service as a Special Agent. After 20-years of distinguished service, he retired from civil service in1988. In retirement, he remained an avid golfer, a voracious reader, a devout Roman Catholic and a steadfast friend to all he met. A loving patriarch, a patriot, and selfless public servant, Francis was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66-years, Gladys I. Belcher, his daughter and son-in-law Pamela and Richard Schoessler of Oxford, PA, his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and CWO5 (Ret.) Robert Gaffney, USA, of Jonesboro, GA, and his son and daughter-in-law Col (Ret.) Michael and Susan Belcher, USMC, of Stafford, VA. He was also beloved by his six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Holy Family Church, Temple Hills, MD with internment to follow at the Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time are to be determined and will be announced separately. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Francis' name to The Wounded Warrior Project.(A link to the site is located above).
Please leave your thoughts and memoires by signing the guestbook located below. Once we recieve confirmation from Arlington National Cemetery, the dates and times of services and interment will be posted here and an obituary will run in the Washington Post.
Born on February 2, 1923 in Cassandra, PA, Francis spent his childhood traveling between military installations with his parents, M/TSgt Benjamin Belcher, USMC, and Edith McCord-Belcher.
After graduating from Calvert Hall College High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1943, rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant while serving as an Avionics Technician during the Pacific Island Campaigns of World War II.
Upon returning stateside after the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Gladys I. Vantaman, and then entered the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor-of-Arts degree in History. In 1951, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer with the Office of Special Investigations, his career included assignments throughout the world to include Spain, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. In 1968 he retired as a Major and returned to the National Capitol Region where he joined the Defense Investigative Service as a Special Agent. After 20-years of distinguished service, he retired from civil service in1988. In retirement, he remained an avid golfer, a voracious reader, a devout Roman Catholic and a steadfast friend to all he met. A loving patriarch, a patriot, and selfless public servant, Francis was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66-years, Gladys I. Belcher, his daughter and son-in-law Pamela and Richard Schoessler of Oxford, PA, his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and CWO5 (Ret.) Robert Gaffney, USA, of Jonesboro, GA, and his son and daughter-in-law Col (Ret.) Michael and Susan Belcher, USMC, of Stafford, VA. He was also beloved by his six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Holy Family Church, Temple Hills, MD with internment to follow at the Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time are to be determined and will be announced separately. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Francis' name to The Wounded Warrior Project.(A link to the site is located above).
Please leave your thoughts and memoires by signing the guestbook located below. Once we recieve confirmation from Arlington National Cemetery, the dates and times of services and interment will be posted here and an obituary will run in the Washington Post.
Gravesite Details
Interred February 22, 2013
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
