Charles William Bellavia

Our beloved father and grandfather, Charles William Bellavia, 95, died peacefully on May 2, 2014. He was born August 28, 1918 in Silver Creek, New York to Carmello and Giuseppa Bellavia. He married his wife Helen "Betty " on August 20, 1945 in Robertsdale, New York. After graduating from Silver Creek High School in June of 1938, he spent three years in the US Marine Corps from 1943-1946. attached to the WWII "Bob's Cats" Squadron, which later became known as the Marine Squadron "The Black Knights." His primary military assignment was as an electronics specialist working on the Corsair aircraft. He earned a sharpshooter designation using the M-1 rifle. He spent his 30-year working career as a parts inspector for Ford Motor Company in Buffalo, New York while continuing to maintain an active 20-acre family farm at his home in Brant, New York. He spent many years serving on the local council for The Boy Scouts of America, loved to tinker with just about anything, was an avid hunter and loved to travel with his family. Charles is survived by his children Charles W. Bellavia Jr., Susan J. Bellavia and Robert M. Bellavia, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by wife Helen "Betty" Bellavia and children David and Daniel Bellavia (twins) and Paul A. Bellavia. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Westside Church of God at 7925 W. Bethany Home Rd. in Glendale, AZ. A viewing will be held at the same church earlier that morning at 10:00 a.m., where friends and family may call. Interment will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Arrangements by SereniCare Funeral Home. The family is grateful to North Valley Assisted Living, Desert Oasis Hospice Care, and John C. Lincoln Hospital (Deer Valley) for the care provided to their father and grandfather. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.serenicare.com.