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Light a Candle
Johnny M. Belch of Lakewood, California passed away on Friday, November 13, 2020. Johnny was born on January 15, 1944 to his parents, Harry Belch and Charlotte (Mickey) Belch. Johnny grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia but lived a short while in his teen years in Las Vegas, Nevada and Lakewood, California. At the age of 17, he moved back to Virginia and joined the Navy. After the Navy, he moved back to Lakewood. He worked at North American Rockwell for a few years, then he left and went to work as an electrician for ARCO at their refinery in Carson. He worked at the refinery for many years. He left the refinery and moved to another division of ARCO, Four Corners Pipeline. He worked there for several years and then he retired at the age of 57. He was only retired for 6 months because he got bored and was driving his wife crazy. So he went back to work for Pacific Pipeline for another 8 years and then retired again permanently. Johnny lived life to the fullest. He loved his family and friends and would do anything for them. He didn’t know a stranger and he touched everyone’s life that he ever met. He could light up a room with his smile and his laugh. He would light up when his daughter Jenn and/or grandson Andrew walked into the room. He was so proud of both of them and their accomplishments. And one of his proudest and happiest moments was when he walked Jenn and Penny down the aisle to get married. He loved Penny and her daughter Christine with all his heart. He and Terri took several vacations including a road trip across the USA in 2016. They hit 32 states, drove 13,000 miles and were gone for 62 days. Johnny said it was the best trip he had ever been on. Anyone that knows Johnny knows how much he loved golf. Not being able to play golf was one of the hardest parts of being sick. Before getting sick he golfed every week with his group of friends every Wednesday. He joined the Santa Fe Golf Association in 1974. He very seldom missed their monthly tournament. He held the positions of President, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board. He was also Golfer of the Year and Club Champion for multiple years. Johnny also loved bowling, darts, pool, shuffle board and softball. You name it and he probably loved to play it. We played on a co-ed softball team for about 25 years that included family and friends. He also played on in a men’s league, sometimes 3 times a week, and he coached a women’s softball team. He loved it. Johnny is survived by the love of his life, his wife Terri Belch, his daughter Jenn Belch-Zavala, grandson Andrew Weld, daughter-in-law Penny Belch-Zavala, granddaughter Christine Verduzco, brother James Belch, sister Michelle Lewis and husband Richard Lewis, father-in-law Donald Dement, sister-in-law Sharon Dement, sister-in-law Laura Hatton and husband and best friend Ed Hatton, and many, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry & Charlotte, his brother Richard Belch, sister Ruth Belch, sister Harriet Getz, sister Donna Hoover, sister Barbara Banta, sister Sue Johnson. A Celebration of Life will be held sometime in 2021 when we can all be together and celebrate Johnny for the wonderful, loving, funny, kind, generous man that he was
