Joe Louis Belota

Joe Louis Belota, 94, of Plum died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange. Joe was born in Plum on Dec. 8, 1919, the son of Joseph Belota and Frances (Sulik) Belota. He married Georgia Faldyn on Nov. 9, 1948 in Holman. Joe graduated from La Grange High School in 1938. He attended Durham Business College in Houston.

Joe was then drafted into the Army and was inducted on May 8, 1942. While in the Army, he received a World War II Victory Medal and an EAME Campaign Medal with Two Bronze Stars and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged from the Army in December 1945 at Camp Fannin. Joe was employed in 1946 by the United States Postal Service as a Rural Carrier. Later, he was appointed Postmaster of Plum on Oct. 1, 1956. He retired from the United States Postal Service

on Oct. 2, 1992 after 46 years of service. Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather to his family. He was a devout Catholic at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Plum. He was an avid domino player and loved to listen to polka music. He was a member and held the office of secretary for over 30 years for the local lodge of the RVOS Farm Mutual Insurance. Also, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Veterans of Foreign Wars

(VFW). He received his 60th year pin from VFW. He is survived by his wife of 65 years; son and daughterin- law, Dennis and Sharon of La Grange; daughter and son-inlaw, Beverly and Gene Kruppa of Plum; three grandchildren, Stacy Wahle and husband Tom of The Woodlands, Elliott Kruppa and wife Jennifer of Houston, and Brooke Belota of Boston, Mass.; three great-grandchildren, Nathan and Caroline Wahle and Elijah Kruppa; three sisters, Martha Kainer of Flatonia,

Elenora Rainosek, Lillian Berger and husband Donald, all of Houston; one brother, Robert Belota and wife Audrey of Plum. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Gary Belota; brother, Edwin Belota; sister, Annie Vasek; brothers-in-law Leon Kainer, J.C. Rainosek, and Jack Vasek. Visitation was held on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange. Family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held

at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Plum on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Plum.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Cemetery/Building Fund, 936 FM 2436, La Grange, Texas 78945; or Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 North Jefferson St., La Grange, Texas 78945. Fayette Memorial Funeral Home of La Grange was in charge of arrangements.