Darrell C. Belcher

It is with great sadness that we relay the passing of Darrell C. Belcher, MD, 81 of Bluefield, West Virginia, on January 19, 2022. He is survived by his partner of 28 years, Regina Gwinn Eckle of Green Sulphur Springs, WV, brother Danny Belcher, Burlington, NC, wife and mother of his children, Ollie B. Belcher (married 1961-1981) four children; Julia Belcher (Philip Rupp) Knoxville, TN, Darrell Belcher II, New York, NY, Sharon Belcher-McRorie (Chadwick McRorie) Asheville, NC, Sarah Belcher (Cary Tilton) Eureka, CA and grandson Ezekiel Belcher-McRorie, Santa Monica, CA.

Darrell was a father, mentor, companion, world traveler, doctor, husband, and dear friend to many. He was a generous spirit and gave his time, money and help to anyone who needed it.

A man of few words with a sly, dry wit and excellent sense of humor, Darrell was the king of the one liner. In addition to being a dapper gentleman he knew where the best food was, from soup beans and cornbread in his own kitchen to dining in some of the finest restaurants in Atlanta, New Orleans, New York and abroad. He traveled the world in style, loved live music, enjoyed art, and knew how to throw a great party. His generosity springs from his humble beginnings- he was truly one of a kind.

Darrell Belcher was born March 11, 1940, in the tiny rural community of Red Sulphur Springs, WV to parents Otis and Faye Belcher, who preceded him in death.

He grew up in Monroe County with his younger brother Danny, plus many cousins, aunts and uncles who loved him dearly. He was an exceptional student and in 1954 was the winner of the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe award, topping all 8th grade history students in the state.

He graduated from Greenville High and was accepted to Berea College in 1958 to study Scientific Agriculture. He made money for expenses by painting barns in his home county.

While at Berea his focus turned towards pre-med, and he attended medical school at West Virginia University. He paid his way by working as a barber at $1 a head and still got the clippers out at home years later to trim up unsuspecting family members.

He volunteered for the Army and served two years in the late 1960s as a captain in Vietnam. He received accolades including a bronze star for valor and performing surgery under fire in active combat.

His first child was born while he was in med school, and along with his growing family he made several moves around the country to accommodate many years of medical training and internships. This culminated with a residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN in Orthopedics, 1971-1975.

Darrell was an exemplary practitioner wherever he went, always focused on helping in his quiet, confident way. He made many fast friends among his peers, mentors, and those he took under his wing, including Drs. Philip Branson, Joe Crow, James Powers.

His entrepreneurial drive led him to start his medical practice in Mercer County, West Virginia in 1976 which continued until his retirement in 2019. He specialized in total joint replacement of knee and hip. No assignment was too difficult. He worked night and day being the best doctor and Orthopedic Surgeon that could be found anywhere. His ability to diagnose and repair any orthopedic break, wound and diagnose other bone and joint problems is well known in the state of West Virginia and beyond.

He was a small-town doctor on first name basis with Ortho gods and referred to as “secret weapon” at Princeton Community Hospital where he worked for 43 years. He always knew a way to get out of a jam in the operating room. He was generous and never demeaning with his knowledgeable, plain-spoken advice and helped a multitude of patients in his many years of practice.

He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. A memorial celebration will be in the spring. If you would like to pay your respects, tell a story, share some photos see links below. 

Donations to Berea College in memory of Darrell C. Belcher. His experience there gave him a path to greatness.

https://give.berea.edu/give/191405/#!/donation/checkout

to sign the guestbook for Dr. Belcher, click the fountain pen icon or visit the online guestbook