Janet Belding
– December 2, 2012
</span><br />Janet Belding, 96, died on December 2, 2012. Janet was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Her maternal family was Pennsylvania Dutch and paternal family was English and Welsh. Janet attended Packer Collegiate Institute and Columbia Teachers College. She came of age in the era when families thought it natural to encourage males to attend university, but Janet insisted and proudly received a BS degree in Dietetics and Nutrition Science.</p>
<p>She began her career as a dietician at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital and worked at the Heinz Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair. Janet met George Belding, “the wonder boy from Pittsburgh,” at the World’s Fair, and they married in 1941. After WWII, Janet and George moved to Seattle, to be near George’s family; George used the GI Bill to finish his education. Together they shared tandem careers and taught in Seattle, Brazil, the Virgin Islands, California and Hawaii, and traveled the world together. Janet retired from Konawaena High School on the Kona coast of the Big Island in 1981, and continued to tutor homebound students until she was 79. Janet is still fondly remembered in Captain Cook as a special education teacher. Janet was active in the Outdoor Circle, the Board of Directors, West Hawaii Humane Society.</p>
<p>At the age of 80 Janet left her beloved Hawaii and moved to Sun City Center, FL where her sister Mary lives. Janet lived independently until this year; she remained strong and feisty, corrected grammar when ever possible, and always appreciated a good joke. From her father, David Mitchell, Janet inherited her love of language and rhyme, the ability to quote poetry, and fine penmanship. Her mother, Florence Baum, came from a line of schoolteachers and from her Janet learned cooking and gardening and some German. Janet spoke French and German and instilled in her children the utility of speaking other languages. She was uniquely tolerant of all diversity. The angst and sadness during this year as her life deteriorated to where she no longer had the ability to do or be what she wanted most, was most difficult. She took solace from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church’s visits.</p>
<p>Janet is survived by her son David, of Santa Barbara, CA; her daughter Barbara of Sante Fe, NM; her sister Mary Hubbard, of Sun City Center, FL; her niece Susan Corbett of Bradenton, FL; and her granddaughter Thea Khama, son-in-law Tshekedi Khama and grandchildren Tahlia and Kaedi Khama of Botswana.</p>
<p>In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the National Humane Society, 4039 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618. Jane and George’s ashes will be scattered on Kealakekua Bay, HI at a later date.</p>
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<p>She began her career as a dietician at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital and worked at the Heinz Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair. Janet met George Belding, “the wonder boy from Pittsburgh,” at the World’s Fair, and they married in 1941. After WWII, Janet and George moved to Seattle, to be near George’s family; George used the GI Bill to finish his education. Together they shared tandem careers and taught in Seattle, Brazil, the Virgin Islands, California and Hawaii, and traveled the world together. Janet retired from Konawaena High School on the Kona coast of the Big Island in 1981, and continued to tutor homebound students until she was 79. Janet is still fondly remembered in Captain Cook as a special education teacher. Janet was active in the Outdoor Circle, the Board of Directors, West Hawaii Humane Society.</p>
<p>At the age of 80 Janet left her beloved Hawaii and moved to Sun City Center, FL where her sister Mary lives. Janet lived independently until this year; she remained strong and feisty, corrected grammar when ever possible, and always appreciated a good joke. From her father, David Mitchell, Janet inherited her love of language and rhyme, the ability to quote poetry, and fine penmanship. Her mother, Florence Baum, came from a line of schoolteachers and from her Janet learned cooking and gardening and some German. Janet spoke French and German and instilled in her children the utility of speaking other languages. She was uniquely tolerant of all diversity. The angst and sadness during this year as her life deteriorated to where she no longer had the ability to do or be what she wanted most, was most difficult. She took solace from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church’s visits.</p>
<p>Janet is survived by her son David, of Santa Barbara, CA; her daughter Barbara of Sante Fe, NM; her sister Mary Hubbard, of Sun City Center, FL; her niece Susan Corbett of Bradenton, FL; and her granddaughter Thea Khama, son-in-law Tshekedi Khama and grandchildren Tahlia and Kaedi Khama of Botswana.</p>
<p>In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the National Humane Society, 4039 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618. Jane and George’s ashes will be scattered on Kealakekua Bay, HI at a later date.</p>
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