William H. Belden, Jr.

Bill Belden Jr., beloved husband, father and community leader, died unexpectedly on Sept. 14th one day after his 82nd birthday.  He spent his birthday celebrating with close friends and enjoying stories of past times and close friendships at Brookside Country Club. Bill was born in Cincinnati, OH on Sept. 13, 1942, a son of the late William and Jeanne (Geoghegan) Belden, Sr., and has been a Canton resident since 1946. He graduated from St. Peter's Grade School in 1956 and Canton Central Catholic High School in 1960. Bill received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1964 and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 1967.

From June, 1966 to November,1967, Bill was employed as an electrical engineer at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. From Dec. 1967 to Dec. 1970, he was employed as a sales engineer for the Jackson-Bayley Electric Company in Canton, Ohio, where he spent the next three years as sales manager. In Jan. 1974, Bill became president of Power Systems Development Inc., in Canton, designing and building turnkey industrial electrical power systems, and he remained in that office until he became President of The Belden Brick Company in July 1983.   He was named Chairman and CEO of the company in April 1993 and remained in that position until April 2008. Bill retired from the Belden Brick Company in 2015.

Preceded in death by his daughter, Kristen Belden, his sister, Janet Belden, and his brother, Bruce Belden.  Survived by his wife, Karen (Scheiring) Belden, with whom he celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on Aug. 22; two sons and daughters-in-law, William (Kevelyn) Belden III, and Brian (Joanna) Belden; one sister, Joan Belden; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Thomas (Kathleen) Belden and David Belden; his sister-in-law, Janice Belden; and eight grandchildren, William IV, Cameron, Blake, Rowan, Jackson, Kristen, Brendan, and Conner.

Bill was a passionate golfer and longtime member of Brookside Country Club (Canton, OH), Pine Valley Golf Club (Clementon, NJ), Firestone Country Club (Akron, OH) and Eldorado Country Club (Indian Wells, CA). Bill was a longtime member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. He was an ardent reader with a love of World War II history, a Notre Dame sports fanatic and lover of Cleveland Guardians Baseball. He enjoyed telling (long!) stories of a life well-lived, and a family and community, which along with his deep faith in God, shaped his character and commitment as a leader of both.

Other memberships and organizations include: Member of Board of Trustees – United Way of Central Stark County, 1979-1987, President of Board – 1983-1985, Campaign Chairman 1979, Member Finance Committee 1989-2002; Member of Stark County Capital Campaigns Committee, 1979-1988, Committee Chairman 1989-2012; Member of Board of Trustees-Walsh University, 1988-2000, Annual Campaign Chairman 1989; Member of Timken Mercy Medical Center Development Committee, 1980-1985; Chairman of Stark County Republican Finance Committee, 1977-1988; Member of Junior Achievement Advisory Board, 1987-2000; Member of Catholic Community League of Eastern Stark County, 1981-1986, Chairman of Building Committee 1986;

Board Member of Red Cross of Central Stark County, 1988-1995; Member of Board, Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, 1980-2015, Board Chairman, 1990-1997; Member of Stark Economic Development Board, 1985-2010; Member of Board of Directors, Central Trust of Northeastern Ohio, 1979-1991; Member of Board of Directors, Central Bancorporation, 1981-1987; Member of Board of Directors, Bank-One, Akron, 1991-2001; Member of Board of Directors, Aultman Hospital, 1985-2014, Vice Chairman of Board, 1993-1996, Chairman of Board, 1996-1999; Member of Board of Directors, Brookside Country Club, 1972-1975/1993-1996, Chairman of Board, 1996; Member of Board of Directors, Brick Industry Association, 1984-2009, Board Chairman, 1993-1994; Member of Board of Directors, Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1994-2021; Member of Board of Directors, Ohio Public Expenditures Council, Chairman of Board, 1996-1998; Member of Board of Directors, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, Volunteer Team Captain, 1993, Special Gift Captain, 1999; Founding Director, Downtown Canton Land Bank, 1998-2018; Member of Distribution Committee, Stark Community Foundation, 1990-1999, Chairman of Distribution Committee, 1997-1999, Chairman of Investment Review Committee 1987-2024; Member of Advisory Board, Catholic Charities, Youngstown Diocese, 1990-1997; Board Member of Ohio Manufacturer's Association, Columbus, OH, 1999-2014; Board Member of National Association of Manufacturer's, Washington, DC, 2003-2014.

A Memorial Mass will be held Wed., Sept. 18, 2024 at 11 a.m. in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.  There will be no calling hours.  The Formet-Clevenger & Gordon Funeral Home in Canton is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Stark Community Foundation in William H. Belden, Jr.'s name, 400 Market Ave N Suite 200, Canton, OH 44702 or at www.Starkcf.org.   Condolences may be left at:  www.gordonfuneralhomes.com.

Gordon (330)456-4766