Belt celebrates 100th birthday

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Carriage Court Assisted Living & Memory Care in Washington Court House invited friends and family of Ella May Belt to its facility on Thursday to celebrate her 100th birthday.

The afternoon began with some music by David Belt, one of Belt’s children. He sang several pieces including a few from various groups he had performed with years’ prior in New York City. His accompanist, Scott Carlton, played the piano and even performed two pieces of his own for the small crowd that had gathered to celebrate.

Afterward, Belt shared some of her memories that stuck out. Born on Oct. 29, 1915, Belt has lived a full life. She and her husband worked their own farm and raised five children. After some time, she went through school to teach and eventually worked at Derby High School where she taught French along with various other subjects. The family resided in Madison Township in Fayette County.

“Many of the people, especially in the Madison Mills area, have been just so special to me,” Belt said. “We raised probably 500 chickens back in the 30’s and 40’s. When Bob and Joe were not yet in school and Ellen was in the first grade, I had to go out and clean out things in the morning before my husband went to work. One day Bob asked if he could get up and help. A few mornings later Joe said ‘I think I can help too.’ So he came out and it was amazing how much they did as kids.”

Other interesting facts about Belt include: her serving as vice president and treasurer of R.C. Belt Inc. in Washington C.H., and she was a great pianist and she used to sing and dance with her musically-talented family when she was a child.

When asked how she felt about having her kids around to celebrate, she simply said, “Good,” and despite David not being as home as much as the other kids, she said she does hear from them often. She also said that she has always had a very supportive family.

Belt shared a few words to her children during the event, “I am just glad that you all speak to me,” Belt said as the crowd laughed.

“Nothing really stays the same,” Belt said about the years she has been alive. “We live in a world where we have had so many wonderful and so many tragic things happen. It can never be duplicated.”

Ella May Belt celebrated her 100th birthday at Carriage Court Assisted Living & Memory Care in Washington Court House on Thursday afternoon. Pictured here; front row (L to R): Jane Belt, Ella May Belt and Ellen Delay. Back row (L to R): David Belt, Joe Belt and Bob Belt.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/10/web1_EllaMayBelt1.jpgElla May Belt celebrated her 100th birthday at Carriage Court Assisted Living & Memory Care in Washington Court House on Thursday afternoon. Pictured here; front row (L to R): Jane Belt, Ella May Belt and Ellen Delay. Back row (L to R): David Belt, Joe Belt and Bob Belt.

David Belt and his accompanist, Scott Carlton, performed several pieces for Ella May Belt during her 100th birthday celebration on Thursday afternoon.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/10/web1_EllaMayBelt2.jpgDavid Belt and his accompanist, Scott Carlton, performed several pieces for Ella May Belt during her 100th birthday celebration on Thursday afternoon.
Carriage Court hosts milestone party

By Martin Graham

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Reach Martin Graham at (740) 313-0351 or on Twitter @MartiTheNewsGuy

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