06/18/2026
Jean Marie Belford, age 91, of Marion, Ohio, passed away on June 14, 2026. Born on August 17, 1934, in Dayton, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Owen Wilton Mather and Eloise Broadstone Mather.
Jean was a graduate of Marion Harding High School and went on to build a distinguished career spanning more than thirty years at Fairfield Engineering. She also worked at Marion Power Shovel, General Telephone, and Verizon.
On June 13, 1954, Jean married Kenneth Belford, and together they celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage before he preceded her in death in 2012. Their partnership was one marked by shared joy and devotion. Jean and Ken taught ballroom dancing together and delighted in dancing at the annual Charity Ball and Heart Fund events. Jean's love of music extended to many years of singing in the church choir.
Jean was well known for her cooking expertise, her meticulously tended garden, and her homemade pickles and other canned goods. She enjoyed traveling on cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, and she found creative fulfillment in growing and arranging flowers and painting ceramics. She cultivated many cherished friendships through her involvement in Beta Sigma Phi, her Bridge club, Eastern Star, and her years of service as a Girl Scout Leader.
A devout Christian, Jean served the Lord faithfully at Trinity Baptist Church in Marion and at Prospect Baptist Church, where she provided the church flowers for many years. She served as chair of the American Baptist Association Mission Board and was recognized as Missionary of the Year in 2012, a testament to her lifelong commitment to her faith and her community.
Jean is survived by her daughters, Lisa (Steve) Oswald and Amy (James) Reese; her brother, Mark (Nancy) Pelphrey; and several beloved family members, including Angela (Micheal) Weaver, Owen (Alicia) Oswald, Jacobi (Cheyenne) Reese, Wesley Johnson, and Andrew Reese. In addition to her parents and her husband Kenneth, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Grace Moore and Joanna Mather.
Calling hours will be held on July 5 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Boyd Funeral Home in Marion, Ohio. A funeral service will take place on July 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Prospect Cemetery.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Wyndmoor Marion and Gentiva Hospice for their devotion and care.
Obituary TBA