MARYVILLE, Ill. —
Obituary was published April 14, 2010.
Belvin Edward Bartholomew of Greenville, Ill., passed away at 5:10 a.m. Friday, April 9, 2010, in Maryville Manor. He was 90.
Mr. Bartholomew, a son of William and Margaret Bernice Nye Bartholomew, was born Nov. 21, 1919, in Sharon.
Belvin Edward grew up in Sharon, attended local schools and graduated from Mercer High School. He then took classes at the former Business Training Institute in Sharon.
Mr. Bartholomew’s early jobs included the former Sharon Steel Corp.’s Farrell plant and the former Garrick’s store in Sharon.
On Aug. 7, 1943, Belvin was united in marriage to Mary Frances McEwen at Mercer Free Methodist Church. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage. Mary preceded him in death Oct. 3, 2008.
In August 1943, Belvin answered his country’s call by joining the Army. He served during World War II as a non-commissioned officer and leading personnel sergeant in the G.H.Q Signal Corps offices of Gen. MacArthur in Australia. His responsibilities included supervising Gen. MacArthur’s analysts for Army Signal Corps requirements to move and allocate officers and enlisted men in the Southwest Pacific area. His last designation was technical sergeant, awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Australia Theater Campaign Medal, an Honorable Service Pin and the Good Conduct Award.
Belvin worked for Denver (Colo.) Rio Grande Railroad, IBM and Data Processing Department; Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Co., Greenville, and Steel Kitchen, Warren, Ohio, as a senior IBM operator; and Talon Zipper Corp., Meadville, as assistant IBM and data processing manager. He took correspondence courses in IBM programming.
Belvin moved to Greenville, Ill., to manage the college data processing department of Greenville College, retiring in 1980.
Mr. Bartholomew enjoyed hunting, fishing, bluegrass, gospel singing and Bible studies. He sang in a men’s gospel quartet in Denver; was self-taught on the auto-harp, violin and guitar; was very proficient on the electric Hawaiian guitar; and played the piano and harmonica. He loved to collect antique trains, antiques, player piano rolls, old music, books and antique radios.
Belvin was a member of the Greenville (Ill.) Free Methodist Church, Edith Christian Monday evening group, Lionel Train Club, National Rifle Association, American Flyer Collector’s Association and Toy Train Operator’s Association.
He is survived by: his children, Walter B. Bartholomew and his wife Brenda, Lakeland, Fla.; and Bonita L. Elmore and her husband Lonnie, Edwardsville, Ill.; a sister, Alma Plummer and her husband Virgil, Louisville, Ky.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Belvin was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Lorinda Jill “Lorrie” Bartholomew, in 1969; and his brother, Warren Bartholomew.
Calling hours from 9 to 11 a.m. today (4-14-10) in Robert L. Snyder Funeral Home Ltd., 169 Second St., Fredonia.
Funeral service at 11 a.m. today in the funeral home. The online guest register may be signed at www.rlsfh.com.
Interment following in Millbank Cemetery, Fairview Township, with military honors accorded by the Pennsylvania Military Honor Guard and Veterans of Foreign Wars Cpl. James O. Jordan Post 3374, Hempfield Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Foundation, 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
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