Mr. Bruce Craven Belk, 87, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2014. He was born August 15, 1926 in Union County and graduated from Unionville School. Bruce was in the US Navy during World War II and, upon return, became part-owner and vice president of Broome Brothers Trailer Repair Service in Charlotte, NC, where he worked for 42 years. Bruce also farmed and raised animals on their land. He enjoyed working in the garden and sharing vegetables with friends and family. Bruce loved being outside and stayed active mowing grass, rabbit hunting and walking through the pasture. A strong Christian, he was a member of Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church and particularly enjoyed his Sunday school class. Well respected throughout the community, Bruce was a member of the American Legion and the Woodmen of the World. To know Bruce Belk was to know a man who loved to talk and spend time with people. He greeted everyone with a warm smile and his quick wit. Bruce also treasured time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Colene Griffin Belk; and his children, Beverly Haigler Daly and husband, Pete of Matthews, and Randy Bruce Belk and wife, Karen of Indian Trail. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Alicia Haigler Smith and husband, Jay of Cary, Aaron Lane Haigler and wife, Tonya of Rocky Mount, Virginia; and Whitney Katherine Belk of Greensboro, and one step-grandson Patrick Daly of Huntersville. Bruce also has five great-grandchildren: Rachel and Tavia Smith, and Ashlynn, Aimslee and Tipton Haigler. The family will receive friends Friday, January 17, 2014 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Gordon Funeral Service Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112. A service to celebrate Bruce’s life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church, 109 East Lawyers Road, Monroe, NC 28110. An interment service will immediately follow at Lakeland Memorial Park, 1901 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112. The family would like to thank the nursing and medical teams at both CMC-Union and CMC-Main for providing outstanding care and support to Bruce during his four-day stay in their facilities. The family also appreciates the outpouring of sympathy and love received during this time and asks that donations in Bruce’s memory be made to Glaucoma Research Foundation, 251 Post Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94108