MOUNT HOLLY Thomas A. Belk Jr., 79, of 508 S. Main St., died Sept. 9, 2004, at his residence. He was born in Mount Holly, son of the late Judge Thomas A. Belk Sr. and Anna Mae Shipley Belk. FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday, The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd INTERMENT: Mount Holly Cemetery VISITATION: 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Woodlawn Funeral Home During World War II, he served in the European Theatre with the 491st Bomber Group and the 852nd Bomber Squadron of the Army Air Force, and was awarded the European Theatre Ribbon, the Air Medal, the American Theatre Medal, the Victory Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. Following the War, Mr. Belk earned a degree in Business Administration from The Citadel, and became a Vice-President with Vision Hosiery in Belmont. He served the City of Mount Holly in nearly every civic and elected capacity that exists, including the Planning and Zoning Board for 12 years, the Recreation Commission, Council member for 13 years, Mayor for 2 years, Officer of the Community Relief Organization, former president of the Mount Holly Jaycees and a member of the American Legion for 50 years. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the infrastructure which allowed Mount Holly to continue to grow and flourish. He was considered a Founding Father of the New Mount Holly which resulted from the annexation of Catawba Heights to I-85 on the south to the Freightliner Plant on the north which brought thousands of new citizens and hundreds of new jobs to Mount Holly. He was a longtime member and Sexton of the Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, where he served in the Choir for 48 years, was named Mount Holly Man of the Year in 1980, and the week of March 8, 2004 was proclaimed Mayor T.A. Belk Jr. week. He was known for his trademark smile, quick wit, sense of humor, bowtie and love of golf. SURVIVORS: Wife of 52 years, Betty Moore Belk; 2 daughters, Lou Ann Gibson and husband Mike of Gastonia, Dianne Vanhoy of Mount Holly; 2 sons, Thomas A. Belk III of Mount Holly, Timothy J. Belk of Potomac, Md.; 8 grandchildren, Lindsay and Clay Gibson, Amy Wentzel, Marshall Vanhoy, Anna, Lauren, Katherine and Thomas Belk IV OFFICIATING CLERGY: Reverend Kenneth Langsdorf MEMORIALS: Music Department of the Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, 110 S. Main St., Mount Holly, NC 28120 or to Hospice of Gaston County, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28053
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