William Michiel Belcher

William ‘Bill’ Belcher was born in Athens, Tennessee, June 24, 1943; he moved to Virginia in 1948 and attended grade school at Ft. Belvoir Army Base. In 1956 he moved to Woodbridge, VA, and graduated Gar-Field High School in 1962. Bill worked briefly for the Department of the Army at Ft. Belvoir, where he obtained a top-secret clearance in his work with the development of the LASER. He completed several college classes at the University of Maryland, and George Washington University. He married Primrose Ann Gnoffo in 1963 (m.1963-1976.) and moved to Ashland, VA in 1967 where he attended Randolph-Macon College. In 1968 he moved to Richmond where he attended and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971. He was blessed with three wonderful children, Mike (born 1969), Melinda (born 1970), and Bryen (born 1972). Bill Belcher is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lynn V Hamilton, four children: William M. Belcher II, Melinda Belcher Carson, Bryen Edward Belcher, his stepson Daniel Ashley Barnaby; and his brother Paul C. Belcher. Also, 8 wonderful grandchildren, Sarah Belcher, Anthony Carson, Casey Belcher, Garrett Carson, William M. Belcher III, Grant Belcher, Eleanor Belcher, and David Barnaby. He was preceded in death by his Father, Billy W. Belcher and mother, Elois Catherine Belcher. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church in Ashland, VA where he served as an usher and volunteer, including Talent Show Emcee and Auctioneer, and served occasionally as a phone receptionist. He worked for Henrico County Schools, at Harry F. Byrd Middle School starting in 1971 and retired from the same in 2001, after which he worked as a substitute teacher, summer schoolteacher and Physical Education summer school supervising teacher. He coached Football, Basketball, Track, Tennis, Soccer and Gymnastics while a Health and Physical Education Teacher at H. F. Byrd Middle School. He assisted in coaching for D.S. Freeman High School Football and was supervising teacher for more than a dozen student teachers from VCU and University of Richmond. Coach Belcher had undefeated teams in three different sports, Tennis, Soccer and Girls Track; he was the Department Chair for the last 18 years of his tenure at H. F. Byrd and was also Athletic Coordinator for the last 5 years. Bill was an adjunct committee member for the VA Game and Inland Fisheries, and a Hunter Safety Instructor for the same. He served as an Alumni Board Member for the Dept. of Education, VA Commonwealth University; Bill was the Track Announcer for Richmond Dragway in Sandston, VA, and Richmond Motocross Park. Mr. Belcher was a licensed general contractor in Virginia for several years and was a life member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS). He was a Charter Member of Front Sight Firearms Training Center, Las Vegas, NV. Services will be held at First Baptist Church, 800 Thompson Street in Ashland at 2:00pm on Saturday, October 9, 2021; family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church.