Holice F. Belding, 80
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Holice Franklin Belding, 80, of Brooklyn St. died Thursday morning, Aug. 27, 2009, at North Adams Commons. He was a longtime volunteer and grand marshal of the Fall Foliage Parade.
Born in North Adams on June 26, 1929, son of Blaine and Gertrude Chilson Stone Belding, he attended schools in Williamstown and North Adams and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1950.
An Army veteran, he served in Germany during the Korean War.
Mr. Belding was employed for more than 30 years by New England Telephone Co. and its successors, retiring from Lucent Technologies in 1984.
He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where he was a lay minister, Sunday school teacher and member of the choir. Starting in the 1960s, he built floats for the New England Telephone for the annual Fall Foliage Parade and continued his participation as a volunteer for more than 30 years as float chairman, banner chairman, assistant director of the parade and working with the Miss Northern Berkshire Pageant. He was named parade grand marshal in 1981. Mr. Belding was president of the Republican City Committee and, in 1966, of the Johnson School PTA, and was a Cub Scout leader. In 1964, he served as president of Local 15 International Brotherhood of Telephone Workers. He enjoyed softball and bowling.
He and his wife, the former Betty Francis, were married on June 4, 1955, in St. John's Church.
Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Sally Bird, and her husband, John, of Adams, and two grandsons, Matthew J. Bird and Tanner C. Bird, both of Adams.
He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister, Ralph Stone, Willard Stone and Alice Stone.
FUNERAL NOTICE - The funeral for Mr. Belding will be held Monday, Aug. 31, at 11 from St. John's Episcopal Church in North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 4 to 7 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Church in care of the funeral home.