Obituaries

Paul Belz died peacefully on the morning of January 14, 2014 in Fremont, California and was reunited with his loving wife of 55 years, Gladys Bistline Belz. He is survived by his daughter Carol Samain (husband Ronald) of Denver, Colorado and his son John (wife Martha) of Milpitas, California as well as their children Christopher (wife Robin) of Burlingame and daughter Amanda Walter (husband Jeff) of Sunnyvale and many nieces and nephews.

Paul was born on New Year’s Eve of 1920 in Maryland, grew up in Falls Church, Virginia and attended Virginia Tech (then VPI) where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His class graduated early in 1943 upon which he entered the army. He served his country for nearly four years stationed in the Philippines and Japan attaining the position of Captain. Upon returning home he took a job at Westinghouse where he enjoyed a 37 year career as an engineer earning the title of Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1955 and was appointed to the Board of Professional Engineers in 1975 by the governor of Maryland. He lived with his wife in Harundale, Severna Park, Ellicott City and Catonsville, Maryland before coming to California in 2011 to be near his son’s family.

Both Paul and Gladys had a passion for travel, seeing all fifty states numerous times and every national park. They showed the entire country to their children. Paul was very active in the Presbyterian Church his whole life. He is remembered as a happy and generous person and will be greatly missed by all those he touched.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at 11 AM on Friday, February 7 at Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94536. A reception will follow at his son’s house. Paul will then return to Maryland and be interred beside his wife at the Crownsville Veteran’s Cemetery in a private ceremony. A public service will also be held in Maryland at 1 PM on Saturday, March 22 at Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church, 2330 Mt. Hebron Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21042. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the USO online at: https://www.uso.org/donatebayarea/