Ithamar Murch (Ike) Bellows, 101 passed away on October 27, 2018. He was born on February 17, 1917 in Freedom, Maine to Charles Eugene Bellows and Fannie Ida Murch Bellows. In addition to his parents, Ike, was preceded in death by his wife Madaline who he cared for until her death in January 2017, his two sisters Phyllis B. Smith and Mary B. Bessey; and a brother Eugene Bellows who died in infancy.
Ike graduated from the Freedom Academy in 1936. He served in the US Army Air Corps from October 1940 through October 1945. He was stationed in England while allied forces prepared for the D-Day invasion of Europe and landed at Omaha Beach a few days after the initial invasion. He and Madaline were married December 24, 1946, in Auburn, ME. They operated a farm for many years in Freedom and lived in several other New England States before settling in Amenia, NY in 1958. He worked as a public school bus driver and as a cook for the State of NY at the Wassaic State School, before retiring to Troy, ME and Clearwater FL. They moved to Hendersonville, NC in 1995 where he was active in shuffleboard and was known locally for his carvings.
Left to cherish his memory are his children Roderic H. Bellows (Cheryl) of Travelers Rest, SC and Nedra J. Bellows (James Murphy) of Lincolnville, ME; grandchildren Jeffrey Bellows (Joseph Vitterito) of Woodstock, CT, Jason Bellows of Denver, CO, Erin Bates of Richmond, VA, and Steven Bates (Clazina Van Andel) of McKinleyville, CA; great-grandchildren Elias, Elliot, and Evan Bellows-Vitterito, Ike and Harper Bellows, and Farrah Bates; sister-in-law Edith Nutter Estes Jordan of Asheville, NC; nieces Carlene Bessey and Camilla Charrier both of Clinton, ME, Marcia Thompson (Merle) of Searsport, ME; and nephews Michael Smith, FL and Barry Estes (Dianne) of Asheville, NC.
Private interment and services will be held in Maine. Memorial donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
