Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Belcher, George Henry 1950
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net July 31, 2018, 8:32 am

Belding Banner-News, 15 Jun 1950

A Navy veteran, who was entitled to wear 12 citation medals including the Purple
Heart, was fatally injured early Saturday morning when his car was involved in a
two-vehicle collision near the Orleans corners on M-44.  The victim was George
Henry Belcher, 24, who has been a life-long resident of this community except
for his service in the Navy and a short period of time he spent as a plumbing
apprentice under his brother, Pat, at Kalkaska.

The tragic accident occurred when Belcher’s car rounded the curve on M-44 near
the Peterman Sales and Service west of the Orleans corners and ran into a car
which had been wrecked seconds before and came to rest crosswise of the roadway.
 Although Belcher attempted to miss the wrecked car, he hit it with enough force
to throw his heavy automobile completely out of control in such a manner that it
carried him to his death and seriously injured Roger Updike, a passenger in his
car.

Eyewitnesses to the accident told a Banner-News reporter that Belcher’s car
sideswiped a tree after hitting the other wrecked car and then after rolling
over at least twice crushed itself against another tree about 40 feet from the
first wrecked car.  Belcher’s crushed body was flung form the rolling car with
such force that it was found by searchers several minutes after the collision
about 37 feet from the point where eyewitnesses believed he was catapulted out.
 Updike was also catapulted from the car before it mashed itself into
nothingness against the large maple which stopped its uncontrolled movement.

The Ellis ambulance removed the young veteran to the Belding hospital where
examination found his skull crushed, his neck broken and a seven-inch steel
plate which had been attached to his spine as a result of bullet wounds received
during the war, wrenched loose.  This was thought to be a contributing factor
against his chances for survival.  He was pronounced dead at 6:15 Saturday morning.

Recently Belcher had returned to this city from Kalkaska and was living with his
wife, the former Donna Jean Johnson, and their two children, Ann Marie, 3 years
old, and George Jr., one year, at Cook’s Corners.  In addition to the widow and
his children, George is survived by his mother, Mrs. Ethel Belcher, six sisters,
Lydia Allen, Gary, Indiana; Belva Youmans, Grand Rapids; Bethel Citts,
Plainwell; Lorna Cole, Grand Rapids; Mary Borst, Cedar Springs; and Crystal
Godfrey, Baldwin Lake; and three brothers, Marshall, Lakeview; Pat, Kalkaska and
Alvin of Grand Rapids.

Examination of his companion found that Updike had suffered a fractured neck in
addition to severe bruises and lacerations.  He was released from the hospital
Tuesday after treatment.  The young man will have to wear a neck cast the better
part of the summer until the fractured bones in his neck are healed.

Driver of the car which Belcher hit was Roscoe Johnson, 17, of Greenville. 
Johnson told nightwatchman Bill Pretzel, who investigated the accident, that he
lost control of his car on the curve and in running off the shoulder struck a
culvert which caused his car to nose over and come to rest in the middle of the
pavement.  Although he was thrown clear he stated that Belcher’s car hit his
wreck seconds after it came to rest.

Richard Smith, also 17 and of Greenville, told a Banner-News reporter who
questioned him at the accident scene that he was trying to free himself from the
wreck when he saw the Belcher car veering towards him.  From then on he said
everything “just went black.”  Johnson appeared to be uninjured but Smith
received a deep cut on the right arm.  Both of the men received first-aid
treatment here following the wreck.

Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Ellis Funeral Home under the
direction of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and with the Rev. H.S.
Ellis officiating.  The VFW held full military rites at the graveside of the
young Navy hero under the direction of Commander Keith Cory.  Interment was in
the family lot at River Ridge cemetery.


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