ELSTER LEE (SLICK) BELCHER, 88 years of age of the State Line section of Big Rock, Virginia, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2012 at the Veterans Hospital at Mountain Home, TN.  Born in Pike County, KY, he was the son of the late Alex S. and Birdie Williams Belcher.  He was a retired Shop Press Operator for Ford Motor Company Foundry in Freemont, Ohio, a former Coal Miner and a retail Merchant.  He was a member of the Church of Christ and served as a Deacon and Elder for the Freemont Church of Christ.  He was a veteran of WWII having served in the United States Army in the Third Army under General George S. Patton.  Mr. Belcher participated in Campaigns of Northern France, Rhine Land and Central Europe and received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon. He was a member of Sandy Valley Lodge #17 AF&AM and the Kazim Temple of Roanoke, VA – Scottish Rite.  He was a lifetime member of the Childs Gentry Post #7360 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of John Ratliff Post #164 of the American Legion and a member of the Eastern Star – Florence Ann Chapter #133.

Mr. Belcher is survived by his wife, June A. Hess Belcher, Big Rock, VA, 2-Sons:            Halver L and wife Sharon Belcher, Celina, OH, Gregory L. and wife Martha Belcher, Mouthcard, KY, 2-Sisters: Kizzie Burke, Shelbyville, KY, Lenora Thompson, Ashland, KY

Also, survived by 2-Granddaughters:      Lisa and husband Robert Albers and Kristi and husband Joel Clark; 2-Grandsons: Gregory Lee and wife Shonna Belcher and Eric and his wife Janet Belcher; 10 Great-Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by 5-Sisters: Olvia Thacker, Esther Thornbury, Thelma Johnson, Ethel Belcher and Alpha Belcher; 3-Brothers: Garrett Palmer Belcher, Roy Halver Belcher and Lawson Belcher; 1-Grandsons: Lyndel L. Belcher and 1-Great-Grandson: Nicholas Albers.

Funeral services for ELSTER LEE (SLICK) BELCHER will be conducted Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Sam Casebolt and Pastor Heath Kahlbau officiating with burial to follow in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock, VA

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M. with Masonic Rites at 7:00 p.m. followed by regular services.

Active Pallbearers will be Eric Belcher, Gregory Belcher, Matthew Albers, Benjamin Belcher, Dustin Belcher, Robert Albers, Joel Clark and Dylan Hottenstein.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. J. P. Sutherland Jr., Garrett Thornbury, Donnie Thornbury, Mark Belcher, Timmy Thompson, Arnold Burke, Larry Burke, Jerry Burke, Kermit Thacker, Eddie Hess, Sammy Hess, Terry Hess, Lowell Hess, Rufus Craft, Jr., Richard Belcher, Edwin Griffith, David Anderson, Junior Justice, David Cook and Jeffery Hess.

Full Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by Members of Childs Gentry Post #7360 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is in charge of all arrangements.