Corporal David Arnold Belcher

Corporal David Arnold Belcher, 80, of Lerona, West Virginia, formerly of Burke Mountain, Keystone, WV passed away Friday, September 27, 2019 at the VA Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia.  David was born October 19, 1938 on Burke Mountain, a son of the late Harold Belcher and Lovella Stanley Belcher.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Carol Belcher Jones and five brothers, Roger Belcher, Ronald Joseph Belcher, Earnest Belcher, Douglas Belcher, and infant brother Thomas Woodrow Belcher, and his son in law, Gregory Spinella.

David was a 1958 graduate of Northfork High School. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corp. Following Bootcamp at Paris Island, SC, David attended Infantry School at Camp Lejeune, NC. He was then ordered to Marine Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. Shortly after reporting to duty, David was recognized for his leadership ability and was promoted to Corporal, serving 2 years of Marine Security guard duty.  He led a squad of men in a demonstration for President Dwight Eisenhower during a ceremony when Hawaii was granted statehood.  David was later ordered to the highly elite, 2nd Force Recon Batallion, where he served the next 2 years of his 4 year enlistment.  During that time, Corporal David A. Belcher participated in numerous Special Operations and landings. After discharge, he proudly served 2 years in the USMC Reserve. 

David worked as a coal miner for 25 years in McDowell County. He was certified as an electrician, boss, pumper, and roof bolter.  He was of the Christian faith for over 40 years.  He served his Lord in many capacities including Sunday School teacher and church Counselman.  He was a very generous man who enjoyed helping others.

David was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 8413 in Kimball, WV and the American Legion Riley-Vest Post 9 in Bluefield, WV.  He also volunteered at the McDowell County Visitors and Veterans Center in Kimball, WV. He loved and enjoyed the camaraderie he shared with his fellow veterans.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 58 years, Wanda McGill Belcher; two daughters, Gwendolyn Belcher Spinella of Bluefield, WV and Davette Belcher Hoylman, and husband Gregory of Lerona, WV; grandchildren Brittany Hoylman White and husband Thomas of Glen Daniel, WV; Joseph Spinella and wife Tonya of Bluefield, WV; and Chief Warrant Officer John Cornelius and wife Ashley of Fort Rucker, AL; great-grandchildren Luke, Jude, and Hugo Spinella and Alexander White; sisters, Joyce White of Rocky Mount, VA, Betty Phelps of Annapolis, MD, and Margaret Robertson of Rising Sun, MD; brothers, Phillip Belcher and wife Chris of Ashland, VA, and Theodore Belcher of Gary, WV; his special brother in law Bill McGill and wife Pat of Sevierville, TN;  many nieces and nephews; and his furry companion, Simon.

A special thank you to the staff of the Beckley VA Medical Center for their love and compassion to our husband and father.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell.  The funeral service will be the following day, Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel 1:00PM with Reverend Olen Robertson officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton with friends and family serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to:  McDowell County Visitors & Veterans Center, 168 Main Street, Kimball, WV 24853 or the Beckley VA Medical Center, 200 Veterans Ave, Beckley, WV 25801