John Reed Belasco
John Reed Belasco, age 75, passed away peacefully at his home on March 22, 2017. He was born June 16, 1941, in Charleston, W.Va., the only son of the late John and Bessie Rice Belasco, whom he lovingly referred to as “The Duchess.”
Reed graduated from Charleston High School and then received a Teaching Degree from Morris Harvey College, now the University of Charleston. He began his teaching career at DuPont High School. He left that position to work at a Planetarium in New York where he also completed his Master’s Degree. In 1976 he returned to West Virginia and began teaching Science at Hamilton Jr. High in Parkersburg, where he remained for the next 27 years, retiring in 2003.
He was a member of the Family Fitness Center and the Actors Guild of Parkersburg and was very involved performing in many plays. His last starring role was “Mousetrap” in 2005. He was a faithful member of the Trinity Episcopal Church where he had been a member of the choir.
He will be missed by his church family, his friends at the Actors Guild, the students whose lives he touched and his many friends, especially Ann Dobbins of Columbus, Ohio.
A Memorial Service for Reed will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 430 Juliana St., Parkersburg, Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 11 a.m. His cremains will be interred in the Trinity Memorial Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Reed’s memory to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Actors Guild of Parkersburg.
Arrangements are being handled by Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg, W.Va.