Dr. Larry Mather Belden

Dr. Larry Belden, 95, died at home with loved ones on October 16, 2014, after a long and full life. He was born to Raymond and Grace Belden in Marathon, Iowa on July 27, 1919, where he joined older sister Lucille and brother Walter. He went on to enter Des Moines Still College and became a student in Osteopathic medicine. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Belden met and married his wife of 60 years, Ann Van Laningham Belden. His young marriage and medical studies were interrupted when he was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army in July 1942. He served at the 232nd Station Hospital in Carmarthon, Wales, tending to sick and wounded soldiers. He received the honor of a direct commission in recognition for this work, and returned home as a Second Lieutenant on Christmas Day, 1945, much to the overwhelming joy of his wife and family.

Dr. Belden completed his studies and moved to the Southwestern United States, ultimately settling in Phoenix, AZ, where he worked initially in private practice and later went on to specialize in pathology at Phoenix General Hospital, where he became Medical Director. He also established a successful private laboratory and became one of the first doctors in Arizona to work in Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Belden was a dedicated, skilled, and compassionate physician, and worked until his retirement in 1980. He then enjoyed many years of recreation and travel with Ann, visiting more than thirty countries and almost every state in the Union. They were both active in Church of the Beatitudes and philanthropic activities.

Dr. Belden is remembered by his family for his generosity of spirit, wry sense of humor, and steadfast love. He is preceded in death by his wife Ann and son Lanny. His surviving relatives include son John Belden (Elvia), daughter Betsy Frank (Alec), Grandsons Andy Hutchinson (Alison), and Nick Frank, Granddaughters Lori Belden-Barr (Jason), Sarah Talton (Donald), Cristina Belden, and Anna Reading (Craig), and six Greatgrandchildren: Elena, Sofia, Drew, Liam, Ben, and Elizabeth.

Services will be held on Sunday, November 16th at A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary (710 W. Bethany Home Road, Phx, 85013) at 1:00 pm. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lawrence Mather Belden Memorial Scholarship fund ℅ ASU Foundation, PO Box 2260 Tempe, AZ 85280-2260. Contributions should be made payable to ASU Foundation.