Obituary of John Edwards Belding

John Edwards Belding, 94, of Brielle passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the Stonebridge Health Care Center in Skillman, NJ on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.  John was born at St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson, NJ in 1927. He graduated from Ridgewood High School and received his bachelors’ degree from Williams College, MA. John served his country in the U.S. Navy in the Radio Transmission Corps. He and his wife, Elizabeth, moved from Ridgewood to Brielle in 1967.

John was engaged in several senior management positions during a forty-seven-year career with his longest tenure at the credit agency, Equifax.  He was also proud a member of Toast Masters International where, in 1962, he won an award for his speech on the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A devoted man of faith, John was a parishioner of the Manasquan Presbyterian Church since 1967 and a member of their Men’s Choir.  He was an energetic, dedicated member of his community who served as a Boy Scout leader and President of the Union Landing Historical Society.  John was the official historian for the Borough of Brielle for over 40 years.  During his tenure, he led the successful initiative of restoring the Revolutionary War Osborn Cemetery and was a member of the Save The Glimmer Glass Bridge committee.  John was also a strong advocate for, and catalyst in, the initiative to develop the 9/11 Park in Brielle.  He was a member of the North Shore Antique Auto Club, an avid gardener, and took great delight in sailing.

Family was everything to John. He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Belding, his granddaughter, Danielle, and a sister, Julia Keyes.  John is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law: Edward and Florence Belding of Kendall Park, Jay and Barbara Belding of Upper Makefield Township, PA, Douglas and Cara Belding of Sterling, IL., and Timothy Belding of Spring Lake Heights; and two daughters and two sons-in-law, Susan Belding and Paul Mathews of Princeton Junction, and Jennifer and Joseph McGuire of Brielle; and six grandchildren, Christopher, Jonathan, Katherine, James, Julia, and Jack; eleven great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service at 10:00 am, Friday, December 10, 2021, at Manasquan Presbyterian Church, 16 Virginia Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736. 

For those who cannot attend the Memorial Service in person, the family invites you to participate via the church’s webcast HERE. 

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family in Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle.  Arrangements by the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory can be made to The Memorial Fund at the Manasquan Presbyterian Church, 16 Virginia Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736 or The Union Landing Historical Society, P.O. Box 473, Brielle, NJ 08730.  For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.