Walter L. Belbot

Walter L. Belbot, at the age of 100 years, passed away December 15, 2022. He was born on October 31, 1922 to the late Michael Belbot and the late Anna Mutscheller in Hamtramck. Though his family did move around for the first few years of his life, Wally primarily grew up in Base Line, today known as Warren.

Wally joined the United States Army in 1943 and was sent to Wisconsin for basic training and was trained to run generators. In the Wisconsin cold he would sleep between two running generators to stay warm. From there, he was sent to Europe during World War II in an Anti Aircraft Unit which was disbanded, sending him to the front lines where he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge.

The year 1946 marked the end of his military career, and he became a toolmaker apprentice, then moving on to Chrysler putting leather upholstery on seats. Shortly thereafter, Wally’s grandmother arranged for him to meet Virginia Walentowicz at a local festival. The couple fell in love, and in May of 1950, they wed. They enjoyed 64 wonderful years together until Virginia’s passing in 2014. The couple settled into their Base Line home and lived there for over 40 years until moving to their current residence in Sterling Heights.

After marrying Virginia, Wally joined the Warren Fire Department. He started out on the bottom of the totem pole as a firefighter, but by the end of his 35 year career he was a Fire Captain. He loved his work with the fire department and was even their cook. He enjoyed cooking and was known to be good at it, making sure his department was well fed. He even returned after retiring to cook for the department for holidays. He and his retiree buddies would meet weekly with the Firefighter’s “Breakfast Club.”

Wally and Virginia were also quite fond of traveling and enjoyed visiting places like Florida, Texas, the famed Branson, Missouri, and northern Michigan, especially enjoying the senior bus trips to see plays at many varied venues. Yet of all the pastimes they enjoyed the most, nothing was more important or enjoyable than doting on and spoiling their cherished grandchildren. As a devout Catholic, Wally was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Blase Catholic Church and was recently honored as the Knight of the Year.

Wally was the beloved husband of the late Virginia for 64 years. Dear father of Ken and the late Larry (Marta). Loving grandfather of Paul (Alexandra) Belbot, Sarah (John) Novak and Rachel (James) Sape. Proud great grandfather of Thea, Leah, Cole, Lucia, Noah and Lawrence with a new great granddaughter on the way. Walter is preceded in death by his parents Michael and Anna Belbot and sister Margie Statkus.

Wally will lie in state on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 8:30am until the time of a Funeral Mass at 9:30am at St. Blase Catholic Church, 12151 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights. Interment at St. Clement Cemetery in Center Line with Military Honors in recognition of his honorable and faithful service to his country.