CHARLES ROLAND “GATOR” BELLAMY, age 92, of Inverness, FL, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, February 22, 2018 under the care of the Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast. Born April 10, l925 in Inverness, FL to Furney Edgar and Vela Dell (Baker) Bellamy, a pioneer family of Citrus County.
He was a graduate of Citrus High School where he played on the football team, played trumpet in the high school band and was a member of the school dance band. The dance band played at various locations in the early part of the war. At seventeen he joined the Navy and served in a P.T. Boat Squadron in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Florida for a short time. He went to work for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as a rodman, resigned as a survey party chief, and was on the first survey team that established Cape Canaveral, which is now the Kennedy Space Center.
He began in the oil business when helping a friend run the Amoco agency. He and his wife owned Bellamy Oil, Inc. They sold the oil agency and the 484 Truck Stop in 1984 and retired. They still own Bellamy Grove which is currently managed by their son, Charles. He was a 50 year Booster of the University of Florida and founded the Citrus County Gator Club which was sanctioned by the University in 1987. He was a charter member of the Inverness Golf & Country Club, VFW Post 7122, and American Legion Post 0077. He has been a Director of the Bank of Inverness and Brannen Bank for over 40 years.
He was predeceased by two brothers, James and Eustas Bellamy and one sister, Florence Kershaw. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marie (Schloetzer) Bellamy; one son, Charles E. (Chuck) Bellamy, Inverness; one daughter, Brenda Jane and husband Edwin Blitch of Bonifay, Fl.; grandsons, Benjamin Blitch (wife Jana and great granddaughter, Bella); Brian Blitch (wife Kristin); and Brett Blitch (wife Jakye and great grandson, Jonah).
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 3:00 PM at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory in Inverness, with Rev. Ron Pfeifer, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Inverness, officiating. Friends are invited to join the family in visitation beginning at 2:00 PM until the hour of service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Charles R. Bellamy Endowment Fund, University of Florida Scholarship Fund, c/o the Citrus County Gator Club, at 904 N. Lyle St., Crystal River, FL 34429.
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