James Leo Belcher

James Leo Belcher, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and fearless leader of our wonderful family. Born November 19, 1923 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Jim entered Heaven’s gates on December 19, 2013 at the age of ‘90’!!

Jim was a WWII Veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater on the Island of Guam as a Torpedo Man. When stationed on Whidbey Island, Washington State, Jim met his wife-to-be, Caroline Johnson. After his discharge from the service he asked for Caroline’s hand in marriage.

It was then that he decided to go to Vo-Tech and study Heating and Air Conditioning. Jim loved his job as anyone can attest. They began raising their family of five kids, moving from Missouri to Illinois to Oklahoma – as he advanced in his profession.

Jim, being the son of a Baptist Preacher and raised in a devout Christian home, was a strong Christian leader and example to his family and friends. He and Caroline have been members of the Village Baptist Church for 36 years. Jim served in many ways, 1st and foremost, he served the Lord. He served his church as Deacon for most of his Christian years. He also served the widows of the church (and neighborhood) by making sure their air conditioners and heaters were working to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Jim retired from Govern Air at the age of 62, but he never quit serving people in need.

Jim loved his family. He never missed a family reunion even though he had to travel from Oklahoma to Illinois every year. Many vacations were spent with family, either they would travel to Oklahoma, or he and his family would travel to Illinois. He became very involved with a Mission in Jamaica that his Dad had established and served there many summers. He volunteered at the Village Baptist Church for 10 years after retiring to maintain their heating and air conditioning. He was very involved in keeping his family’s reunions/retreats going from year to year. He loved travelling – he and Caroline traveled many miles pulling their Air Stream Camper. But he’s probably most known for singing “Little Johnny Burbeck” at many of the family get-togethers. He would always get a request to sing. As a sportsman he collected knives and guns and was an avid outdoorsman sharing the enthusiasm of hunting and fishing with his children.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Dessa Caroline, 5 children: Sons Jim Belcher and wife Susie, Danny Belcher and wife Nancy, and three daughters, Jeanie Cox and husband Mike, Louann Batchlear, and Barbie Yeager and husband Don. Eighteen (18) grandchildren: Phillip, Julee, Jenny, Cyndi, Brian, Jan, Jeff, Brad, Kevin, Tina, Holly, T.J., Billy, Denise, Jarrett, Steven, Kelli, and Staci. And twenty two (22) great-grand children (with another one on the way). Along wih family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leo Belcher, and mother, Clara Belcher and four brothers, Harry, Bob, Roger and Clarence.

(A heartfelt “Thank You” to the caregivers and nurses at Tuscany Village Nursing Home and Sooner Hospice, LLC. )

Funeral Services are at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27 at the Village Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (The Village Baptist Church is graciously providing lunch at 12 o’clock before the services for the family) Internment is at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation is Thursday, December 26th from noon – 8pm.

Services entrusted to the care of Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens of Oklahoma City. www.chapelhill-okc.com