Johnny E. Belcher

Johnny Edward Belcher, 76, of Bucyrus, passed peacefully Thursday, December 31, 2020 at his home following recent health complications.



He was born May 1, 1944 in Davy, WV to the late Johnny W. and Lillian E. (Light) Belcher. Johnny spent his younger years in West Virginia and at the age of 17 ventured to Connecticut for work. He lived there for a short time before making his way to Bucyrus in 1961, which led to a good life. He found a job at Swan Rubber, working for 42 years before retiring in December of 2007. His job at Swan led to him meeting Barbara Sue Lewis, a fellow employee and on October 26, 1964, they married and have shared 56 years of marriage and good memories. Johnny was proud to have served the city of Bucyrus as an auxiliary police officer during the 1970s and 80s.



Johnny’s family came first in life and there were many times when he put their needs ahead of his own. He was active in the lives of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, always supporting them during their events. He loved the laughter and stories shared during Sunday dinners and he did his best to make the annual family reunion held in the hills of West Virginia.



In his spare time, Johnny was most often found in his garden, which was his pride and joy. This masterpiece of his took up much of the back yard and helped provide ingredients used to make some of his family favorite recipes such as his sauerkraut balls and chow chow. His green beans were the best in the area and he also made a pretty tasty beef jerky. He and Barb canned a lot of vegetables over several years and he shared everything he grew with neighbors. Johnny also spent a lot of time caring for his lawn and after cleaning up the yard, would often drive his lawn tractor around the neighborhood to visit with neighbors or give rides to his grandkids. Anytime he entered the house, his four legged companion, Buck was there to greet him and his family felt that if they received the attention that Buck did, they’d probably never leave the home.



He will be deeply missed by his wife Barb; daughter, Vicki (Jim) Ruttman; grandchildren, Shena Belcher, Kelsey (Johnny Malone) Belcher, Sydney Ruttman, Scott (Jewel) Ruttman and Samantha Ruttman; seven great grandchildren; siblings, Elsie Mitchem, Danny (Carolyn) Belcher, Debbie Deskins, Darlene (Ken) Aidt and Diane Belcher as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.



Johnny was preceded in death by his son, Neil Belcher; granddaughter, Danielle Belcher Higginbotham and two brothers-in-law, Richard Deskins and Lonnie Mitchem.



The Belcher family will celebrate Johnny’s life privately at Wise Funeral Service and he will be laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery. Donations can be made payable to either the American Heart Association or to the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio. The gifts will be accepted through the funeral home and expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on his tribute page.