Virginia Delores Hamilton Belding
Virginia Delores Hamilton Belding, 87, died April 11, 2012. She was born in Abilene on Aug. 5, 1924, to James David and Frances Belle Walker Hamilton.
She graduated from Abilene High School and attended McMurry College. She worked three years in civil service for the Army at Camp Barkley as chief payroll clerk for the medical administrative officer’s candidate school during World War II. She also served as chief payroll clerk for the civilian personnel division until the war ended.
After the war and before marrying Curtis Gage Belding in 1947, she worked for Humble Oil & Refining in Abilene. The couple had two sons, David Hamilton Belding and Thomas Gage Belding.
She was active in the Methodist church throughout her life. She was awarded the Methodist Women’s Society of Christian Service gold pin and was among a small group of women serving on the church board. She was active in the hospital auxiliary for 15 years and was service chairman with the American Cancer Society in Winkler County for 12 years.
After her husband retired in 1977, the couple built a retirement home and moved to Buchanan Lake. She began taking art classes which jumpstarted her passion for oil painting. For many years she was an active member of the Buchanan Arts and Crafts and Highland Lakes Art Guild. Her paintings of Texas Hill Country scenes were sought out by many enthusiasts of bluebonnet flowers and Texas longhorn cattle. Her art has been acquired by people residing in at least eight European countries and across the United States.
Survivors include sons David and wife Susan of Houston and Tom and wife Jo Ellen of Roswell, N.M.; grandchildren Jacque Belding Miller and Wesley Belding; daughter-in-law Melanie S. Belding; stepgrandsons Doug Belding and wife Kim and Scott Belding; niece Lynda Brender and husband Art; and nephew Jim Tankersley and wife Carolyn.
She was preceded in death by her husband; stepson Don Allan Belding; sisters Melba Thornton and Mary Ellen Tankersley; and grandson Grant Hamilton Belding.
A graveside service is 2 p.m. April 15 at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park in Burnet.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Marble Falls.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373.