Obituary of James Joseph Belt

James Joseph (“Joe”) Belt, 78, of Morgantown, passed away Friday, May 27, 2016 at Mon General Hospital with loved ones by his side. After a 16 month heroic battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, he is now with his Lord and Savior. He was born January 16, 1938 in Weston, West Virginia to the late Carl Philip and Dexter Triplett Belt. Joe first retired after a 36 year career with C&P Telephone Co./Bell Atlantic. Working in Moundsville, New Martinsville, and Morgantown, he started as an Installer/Repairman in 1956 and retired as an Engineering Planning Manager in 1992. He then went on to work at Azimuth, Inc. for 15 years as a Program Manager on a variety of projects supporting the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. intelligence community. Joe then retired a second time at the age of 74. He served as a Communications Specialist (SP4) in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963, stationed primarily in Germany. Joe enjoyed, above all else, spending time with his family and his beloved dog Barney. He also enjoyed fishing, reading, and working with his computers and electronic gadgets. Joe attended the Morgantown Church of God. Joe is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sylvia; children Tina Hartzell and husband, Craig Hartzell of Morgantown, Philip Belt of Indianapolis, Indiana, Jeff Belt of Morgantown, and Tanya Bruner and husband Tim Bruner of Morgantown; grandchildren Kristina Conaway and fiance’ Jason Saylor of Cadiz, Ohio; Christopher Hartzell of Constantine, Michigan, Aaron Hartzell of Morgantown, Jacob Hartzell and wife Aki of Japan, Benjamin, Abby and Jonathan Belt of Indianapolis, Indiana, Luke and Tyler Belt of Morgantown, Ashley, Emiley, Adam and Elaina Bruner of Morgantown; and great-grandchildren Skyelar Goldsborough and Wesson Saylor of Cadiz, Ohio, Keegan Hartzell of Morgantown, and Dylan Hartzell of Constantine, Michigan; nieces Mary Stutzman, Lauren Cunningham, and Jeanine Cunningham; and nephew Wade Tipton. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Genevieve Cunningham and her husband Elmo Cunningham and Jeanne Tipton and her husband Joe Tipton and his nephews Joe R. Tipton and Carl Tipton. On behalf of Joe, the entire Belt family would like to express our heartfelt and eternal gratitude to the Oncology floor, Infusion Center, and office nursing staff at the Mon General Hospital Zelda Stein Weiss Cancer Center for the compassionate, loving, professional care you provided to him over the last 16 months. We want Ellison Ponzurick, Christinea Marino, Stephanie Davis, Ami Gheewala, Melissa McFadden, Christina Smith, Kristina Beringo, Kristi Ames, Hillary Swauger, Kathlene Jurczak, Heidi Zbosnik, Daisy Perry, Brandy Blaker, Britni Miltenberger, Kayla Leach, Susan Connell, Dottie Bryant, Jack Mankins, Clarence Hess, Andrea Hart, Heather Colebank, Janice Yoskovich, Jennifer Vanin, Kim Roderick, Melissa Estep, Rachel Perry, Theda Embacher, Trish Kuis, April Lynch, Jean Painley, and Tannay Daniels to know that you will always hold a very special place in our hearts, just as you did in his. We consider you a part of our family now, and thank you for making a difficult experience much more bearable. We would also like to thank all of the Mon General volunteers, housekeeping staff, and food service staff for everything you did for him during his numerous hospital stays to make him feel more comfortable. We also thank the Morgantown Hospice staff for providing support in the last week of his life. Family and friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 4-9pm on Wednesday, June 1, and from 12-2pm Thursday, June 2. The funeral service will begin at 2:00pm, with Pastor William Kittle officiating. Graveside services will be held immediately following the service at East Oak Grove Cemetery on Dorsey Avenue in Morgantown. The family will be accepting flowers, but would like to suggest donations be made in Joe’s memory to the Zelda Stein Weiss Cancer Center of Mon General Hospital, 1200 JD Anderson Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.