John Perry Bellville

John Perry Bellville, of Bethlehem, GA passed away on December 30, 2023 at 2:09 pm. He was born to Florence Elizabeth Rowe & Lawrence Bellville on March 21, 1935 at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Fulton County, GA. He attended Avondale High School where he met his, "Betty Lou", whom he married August 20, 1956. Family members joke that they can determine how long a person knew him, or how they met, by what they call him. As a young boy he was called "Pete" by his mom and friends. He was known as "Perry" by his siblings, wife, and to anyone to whom Betty introduced him. "John" was the name he used when he introduced himself, and that he used with coworkers and military friends (who didn't know Betty). He always referred to himself and signed personal cards and letters as "John P." As the years passed he earned more titles such as: Daddy, Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa, but was self-titled "G.P. - John P" (GrandPa John P.)

John Perry entered the USMC when he was underage ... he convinced his best friend's mother to vouch/sign for him to enlist. After being found-out, he was discharged and requested that he "come back in 23 days" when he would be of age. He left and went to the US Navy recruitment office, in his Marine uniform, to enlist. In the Navy he earned the United Nations Service Medal while in Korea, National Defense Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. Once married, he transferred to the US Army, his 3rd round of boot camp. During his career in the US Army the family was stationed in Germany for 3 years. He was then deployed to Korea, with Purvis's Raiders, and from there he was sent to Vietnam on the Rebel gunship team. He served an additional 11 month tour in Vietnam and finally retired at the rank of CWO2 in August of 1972. He earned the Good Conduct Medal 3d Award, Vietnam Service Medal, Aircraft Crewman Badge, National Defense Service Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Army Commendation Medal, and 4 Oversea Service Bars. During his time in the US Army he was in aviation and worked with and on Sikorsky, Huey, Mohave, as well as other aircraft, and even dirigibles at the start of his career. Stating, "In every branch I'd sign-up to be a grunt. I'd finish basic and a senior officer would walk-in and say they needed volunteers - 'You, You, You, and YOU', as they pointed to me". He was a supply officer, crew chief, and left door gunner when in country. Stateside found him adding to his responsibilities as he was assigned to share his skills and knowledge teaching at the transportation school at Ft. Eustis, VA.

After his time in the military, he owned and operated an over-the-road truck with Superior Trucking. His rig, "Mack-Mack" was a part of the family and he told stories of his antics and adventures until his last days. Many of them included his hat, which became another moniker he was known by. "The Hat" and the "Hat's Meow" were the CB handles he and Betty used in their travels. He then decided to become POST certified as he entered a new career with the Georgia Tech Campus Police Department. There he served as morning watch commander, head of motorcycle maintenance program, worked with and became part of the SWAT team, the Honor Guard, and the motorcycle patrol unit. He worked with the State of Georgia Law Enforcement for the 1996 Olympics, and retired from Georgia Tech Police Department in March 1997 with the rank of Lieutenant.

While he was very much a military person, his first love was baseball. He even tried-out for The Georgia Crackers and would've been selected for the team had he not already served in the military. His love for sports never subsided, and everyone knew to "keep it down" when the game was on. He enjoyed showing kids, grandkids, and great-grands how to throw, catch, and hit ... but the kids will tell you he preferred to bat and let them pitch! He included bumble-bee batting as his favorite sporting past-time. He was a homebody, but very much enjoyed company for short visits. While he didn't really profess to have a "hobby" his interests included: guitar playing, writing songs/stories/poems, gardening, woodworking (opening a small company called Grandpa Craft in the 1980s), motorcycles (raced Triumphs and Indians in the 1950s and set speed records on Daytona Beach), cars (Fords in particular), and inventing or coming up with new ways to do things. While he was talented and could do many things he often quoted the old saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none". He had quick wit and a terrific sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke or prank. He looked beyond the surface and was not a fan of small talk, thus nicknaming many for qualities he saw or behaviors he noted. Many of those nicknames lasted a lifetime and even became legal aliases for some. He spent a great deal of time in the rocking chair on his big front porch, drinking a "cuppa" and listening to the grass grow, conversing with the birds as he imitated their calls, or just people watching. He appreciated nature and he recognized the beauty from our Creator.

John Perry Bellville is predeceased by his wife, Betty Louisa Rickett Bellville and is survived by his three daughters: Cynthia Ann (Keith) and adult granddaughters Jessica and Kristina; Tammy Sue (Don - deceased) and adult granddaughter Cynda (Mark) and great-grandchildren Audrey, Luke, James "Sumo", and Jude, adult grandson Michael "Mugger"(Melissa) and great-grandchildren Skyler, Parker, Samantha, Madison, & Maxine; and Sydney Gayle "Scooter"(Matt) and grandboys Henley Chase, Quinnland Rowe, Marshal Davis "Doc", and Perry Malachi (deceased).

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 PM in the chapel of A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, GA. Interment with full military honors will follow at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Tucker, GA. The family will receive friends at A. S. Turner and Sons prior to the service, beginning at 12:00 pm.