Sonny Ray Belcher

Sonny Ray Belcher, 79, of Kendallville, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born on December 7, 1945, in Logan County, West Virginia, to Grant Arnold and Thelma Browning, Sonny lived a life filled with joy, faith, and generosity.

Sonny dedicated 35 years of his career to the Castings Department at Newnam Foundry, retiring with a legacy of hard work and commitment. A true outdoorsman, he found solace in fishing, boating, and tending to his garden.

As a self-taught mechanic, Sonny spent countless hours in his shop, skillfully repairing engines and tackling projects with precision.

His love for cooking brought family and friends together, especially for his legendary big breakfasts, where he always made room at his table for anyone who joined.

Known for never meeting a stranger, Sonny’s warmth and zest for life left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

A man of deep faith, Sonny was a devoted member of Waterloo Freewill Baptist Church, where he loved singing gospel music and fellowshipping with his brothers and sisters in Christ. His devotion to God and his church community was a cornerstone of his life, inspiring those around him.

Sonny is survived by his four daughters, Kathy (Cliff) Hall of Kendallville, Thelma (Roger) Boling of Butler, Rachel Abshire of Kendallville, and Tonya (Mark) McMahan of Stokesdale, North Carolina.

Ten grandchildren, Valerie Hall (Drew), Jacob Sparkman (Callie), Alex Belcher (Emily), Ashley Belcher (Lance), Tiffany Freed (Tyler), Austin Wolfe (Andrea), Joshua Clauson, Emily Reiner (Tim), Andrew McMahan, and Clayton McMahan; 18 great-grandchildren; and 6 siblings.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Grant Arnold and Thelma Browning; his stepmother, Nora Arnold; his first wife, Anne Collins; three brothers; and two sisters.

A celebration of Sonny’s life will be held at Waterloo Freewill Baptist Church in Waterloo, Indiana, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., with graveside services to follow at Orange Cemetery near Rome City.

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