Individual Details

Death

Roland Pearson Belk, 99, of Concord, passed away peacefully Monday evening, January 27, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He is now Home in Glory with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A memorial service to honor him will be held Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 3:00pm, at the family's church home since 1950, Arlington Baptist Church in Mint Hill, NC. The service will be officiated by Rev. Rick Whittier and burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Mr. Belk was born March 16, 1925 in Union County, NC to the late Matthew Wilson and Margaret Isabella Long Belk. While weighing only three pounds at birth, he defeated the odds and survived. While his mother was being attended to, she attributed his survival to a nurse there and allowed her to name her youngest son. His determination to persevere followed him throughout his life. He attended Stephenson School in Union County and then went on to serve his country in the United States Navy during WWII. After returning home, he met the love of his life, Margie, at a party and after dating a few years, the two went to York, SC to be married on New Year's Day. They celebrated 75 years of devoted marriage on January 1, 2025. Their love is the epitome of true, dedicated love - holding hands and just being best friends together. He worked hard to provide for his family and retired from the Mecklenburg County School system as a sheet metal mechanic after many years of service. Saturdays were not days "off" as his children love to remember. Dad loved waking everyone with a song by 7am and cooking a big hot breakfast for the family. Roland was an active member of Arlington Baptist Church. His passion was horseback riding and horses in general. He won awards in barrel racing and other gaming events at community shows in his younger years and truly loved trail riding with family and friends taking his last trail ride at the age of 89. He was blessed to take many trips riding all over the country from the beaches to the mountains and even other states with his trail riding friends. He and his family enjoyed camping, taking trips to the beach and the mountains. Everyone has a special memory of Dad - from rabbit hunting, to visiting family (you'd better be home or there'd be things stacked in front of your door), and all the kids loaded on the tractor on Saturdays while he cultivated the garden. Some of the family's favorite memories from childhood to adulthood, is Dad pulling out his guitar and everyone singing old gospel hymns and bluegrass into the evening around the kitchen table. He was particularly known for his ability to create an authentic train whistle when singing Wabash Cannonball and he didn't mind showing off a little buck dancing at times. RP, as many knew him by, was the most loving, kind, humble and trustworthy man, with an infectious smile, loving his Savior, his wife and family - setting a wonderful example for all who knew him. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by sisters, Kathleen Belk, Pauline Stilwell, Ruth Thompson, Irene Privette and Kathryn Stilwell; brothers, McDowd Belk, Glenn Belk, Willie Belk and Eugene Belk; one great-grandchild, Olivia Preslar. He is survived by his devoted wife and selfless caregiver, Margie Hough Belk of the home; children, Yvonne Houston (Tommy) of Mint Hill, Deborah Barr (Bill) of Harrisburg, Pamela Furr (Craig) of New London and Gary Belk (Shelley) of Ramseur; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who were like sons and daughters to him - providing support and care in his older days. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.