Mary Justine (Lane) Belles

Mary Lane Belles, 95 passed away quietly and peacefully on April 19, 2018 in Princeton, IN. On June 15, 1922, Mary was born in Princeton to Donald and Virginia Mae (King) Lane. Growing up, she was especially active in 4H and the Girl Scouts, winning numerous ribbons at the County Fair. She attended Indiana State Teachers College in Terre Haute (1939 – 1941).

She was married to her late husband, Robert Lee Belles on August 30, 1942. She was a fervent advocate of Early Childhood Education and was Director of the Nursery School at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts and worked for Mount Holyoke College in their Gorse Child Study Center until her husband was transferred to Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. When her husband retired after 28-1/2 years in the Air Force, they settled in Princeton. Mary became actively involved with the Princeton Public Library’s Friends of the Library group and for many years helped to organize and to run the annual book sale. She was a life time member of the Princeton Tri Kappa Sorority - Gamma Omega Chapter, a charter member of the Evansville Embroidery Guild and upon invitation became a member of The Tourists.

Surviving Mary are her daughters, Marilynn Jeanne Crelier, Martha Lee Oprisko and Melinda Belles; 5 grandchildren, Joseph, Aimee, Robert John, George III and Robert Lee; and 11 great grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2018 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Princeton. Burial will follow. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery. Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that contributions be made to Friends of the Princeton Library (for their Children’s Room Fund), 130 South Hart St. Princeton, IN 47670. You may leave a message of sympathy or light a candle in memory of Mary at www.colvinfuneralhome.com. Colvin Funeral Homes, family owned and operated since 1908.

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