Jack Belden

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Jack Mitchell Belden passed away peacefully in his home for the past year, College View Manor. Jack was born on December 11, 1932, in Kansas City, MO, where he was adopted by Russell and Erma (Lagle) Belden, who made their home in Joplin.

Jack was raised in Redings Mill, MO, south of Joplin. He had fond memories of those years, attending the one-room school taught by Mrs. Lee Eggerman, and spending summers swimming in the Gargantuan Reddings Mill pool.

Tragedy struck in 1939 when Erma was killed in an automobile accident. Jack always felt that Mrs. Eggerman, who had no children of her own, always “looked out for him”.

When Russell married Elsie Nichols, family dynamics led to Elsie’s daughter, Jean, living with her father while Jack was enrolled at the Ridgewood Military Academy in Woodland Hills, CA, selected because Russell’s sister, Mildred Hall, lived nearby. Ridgewood was where Jack met Ed Berger, with whom Jack maintained a lifelong friendship.

All who know Jack know how fond his memories are of Southern California. Jack said that in the late 40s, with no automobile air conditioning, the scent of eucalyptus, strawberry fields, and orange groves was as much an attraction to California as the beaches and climate.

Russell developed cancer in 1950 and spent the last year of his life in California to be near his sister, Millie, and Jack. Russell died in January of 1951, leaving the eponymous business he founded in 1929 in trust for Jack.

Jack was drafted into the Army in 1952, served two years in the 47th Camouflage Battalion where he also learned to snow ski. Jack attended Joplin Junior College, which became Missouri Southern State University. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1956.

Jack married Sara Franklin Ditto on December 3, 1952. They divorced in 1982 but remained friends and she survives. Jack fathered two sons with Sara who also survive, Scott S. Belden (Judy) and Russell B. Belden, both of Joplin. 

Jack owned and operated Russell Belden Electric Company until his retirement in 2003, when he sold the business to Scott.

Around that time, he purchased property on Table Rock Lake which became his “happy place” and the site of many family gatherings.

As a lifelong Joplin resident, Jack loved his community. He was involved in city politics, served on numerous committees as well as serving on the city council for 26 years and as mayor from 1978 to 1982.

Jack loved to travel, especially by automobile. He and his companion of nearly 40 years, Barbara Welch, of Carthage, traversed the country. They made numerous trips to Texas and to his beloved California, spending time with Barbara’s sister, Karen, who lives in Sherman Oaks.

Jack had a thirst for knowledge of history, art, movies, and other subjects, but none greater than his love and knowledge of automobiles. He retained photos or made drawings of every car he ever owned, none more unique than his 1971 De Tomaso Pantera.

In addition to his sons, “Papa Jack” is survived by granddaughters Ashley (Cory) Thomason, Atlanta, GA; Bethany (Isaiah) Smith, Wood River Junction, RI; Alec Belden, Carthage, MO; and Parker Belden, Bentonville, AR. His great-granddaughters Katie Thomason, Claire Thomason, and Bernadette Smith also survive.

In addition to Barbara Welch, Jack is survived by her children, Lori Miller, Carthage, MO, Jeffery (Beth) Welch, Kingwood, TX, Gregory (Beth) Welch, Kingwood, TX, along with their children and many grandchildren, most of whom enjoyed time at the Table Rock Lake house.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Missouri, Trulaske College of Business, or the Missouri Southern State University Foundation.

A Celebration of Life will be held at College View Manor, 3828 College View Drive, Joplin, on August 8 at 1 pm.