Roy Bellinger, Jr.

  Born in Milwaukee, WI on May 22, 1937 Departed on January 22, 2022, and resided in Indianapolis, IN Visitation: Eastside Seventh-day Adventist Church 3243 N Sherman Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46218 Visitation Date: Thursday, February 24 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm Memorial Service: Eastside Seventh-day Adventist Church Memorial Service Date: Thursday, February 24 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm   On May 22, 1937, the household of Carlena Merriweather Bellinger and Roy Bellinger was blessed by the arrival of their son, Roy Bellinger, Jr., and they eagerly welcomed baby Roy into their Milwaukee, Wisconsin home. Roy Jr. (or “Pastor B.” as he was affectionately called by his dearest and closest friends) was the couple’s first son. Delores Bellinger Jackson (deceased), Roy's older sister, arrived two years prior to his birth. Other siblings soon joined the expanding household: twins Helene Bellinger and Carlena Bellinger; Barbara Ann Bellinger Applewhite, Edward Bellinger, Laurence Bellinger, Jerrold Bellinger, Maurice Bellinger, and Clarence Bellinger. Coming from a strong Christian heritage, Roy confessed an early hope in Christ as his personal Savior. In his early teens, he developed a passion for further Spiritual Growth; and after the witness of the Jenkins family and the genuine affection he was shown by Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, Roy and several of his teenage friends were baptized into the Milwaukee Sharon Seventh-day Adventist Church. Roy‘s early education began traditionally in Milwaukee, and he graduated from West Division High School in 1955. However, his new faith led him to seek higher education within the Seventh-day Adventist faith. His undergraduate studies began at Oakwood College (Huntsville, AL) and were completed at Union College (Lincoln, NE) in 1965 where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion. His Master’s Degree in History and Theology was completed at Andrews Theological Seminary (Berrien Springs, MI). Several years after graduation, he married Jacquelyn “Jacci” Green on September 23, 1964, and she became his life’s partner. Pastor Bellinger served the Lake Region Conference throughout various districts including Evansville/Jeffersonville/New Albany, Indiana; Mishawaka/South Bend/Elkhart, Indiana; Battle Creek/Albion, Michigan and Indianapolis, Indiana. In Indianapolis, he founded Eastside SDA Church after purchasing and converting a plot of vacant land into its current structure with the support of many dedicated founding church pastors and families including but not limited to the Allens, Betheas, Freemans, Hughes, Jacksons, Jointers, Simpsons, Scotts, and the Winders (listed in alphabetical order). Pastor Bellinger led the Eastside Church groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by Mayor Hudnut, Elder Wagner, Elder Brown, and many others. Roy was a very creative and innovative teacher/preacher. The first evidence of Roy’s innovative skills and ability to "think outside the box" occurred during his first assignment in Evansville, IN. After a fire at the John Street church, which destroyed the interior, he prevented the city’s mandated demolition by annexing a parsonage to the church’s existing structure using his own money. He used his construction skills he learned while attending Union College to help pay for tuition (e.g., electrical, gas line connection, plumbing, dry wall hanging skills) and worked tirelessly to complete the construction of the annex each day after his pastoral duties. He did this because he recognized early on that keeping the original structure, although damaged by fire, was critical for membership retention and church growth. The small band of believers at the Evansville SDA Church grew after the annex was built and after he launched a successful crusade there. Following his reassignment several years later, the property was used as a rental to generate income for the church. The first occupant was Maxine Norman, the church’s schoolteacher. Roy's innovative business practices surfaced mid-year when he managed the Camp Meeting Store in Cassopolis, MI, where he kept accounts in the black with his inventive stock of bakery items and canned goods. During the latter years of his ministerial career, he became impressed to use innovative and creative visual aids to illustrate Biblical Truths after reading where inspired writer E.G. White advocated their use. Sister White commended Elder Simpson for his use of three-dimensional papier-mâché visual aids in his preaching in California. She also encouraged innovation and risk-taking in new protocols and methods (RH February 7, 1907). So inspired, Pastor Bellinger began using props of his own to vividly illustrate Bible Truths. Pastor B. was charismatic and loved to laugh. During his early employment at Lake Region Conference, he and Jacci entertained many of their peers, new/prospective members, friends, and their families who enjoyed his wry sense of humor and deadpanned delivery as well as the delicious meals he would prepare. He loved to cook and would even create new recipes. Over the years, however, with his declining health and their limited finances he could no longer continue entertaining or serving as he would have liked. Initially, what started from Roy’s teenage curiosity and a desire for Spiritual Growth grew and developed him into a mature and creative preacher, teacher, and a pioneer within the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. After leading innumerable people to Christ, Pastor B. silently closed the doors of this life on January 22, 2022, to await the return of his Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ. Until his unexpected death, Elder Bellinger continued to serve Eastside Church and was “known on the throne" because of his diligent Bible study, dedicated prayer life, inexhaustible and committed service and courageous witness. He leaves behind Jacquelyn Bellinger and their three devoted children: Roy Bellinger, III; Robyn (Curtis) Vialva; Royna (Derrick) Lattimore and grandchildren Devante, twins Derrick, Jr. and Eric, and Matthew Lattimore to mourn his passing and cherish precious memories. Also grieving his passing are his surviving siblings, other family members, and a host of dear friends. Visitation & Memorial Service Visitation will be on Thursday, February 24th from 12:00pm-1:00pm followed by a memorial service at 1pm at Eastside Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 3243 N. Sherman Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46218. Please note that in-person seating is limited due to COVID-19 safety precautions. To attend in person, RSVP to the church secretary at (317) 547-4230.   Join by Zoom                                                    Join by Phone Meeting ID: 878 821 7735                             Dial-in Number: (312) 626-6799 Passcode:  3fMGPX                                         Meeting ID:  878 821 7735# .                                                                             Passcode:  366 024# In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pastor Roy Bellinger Memorial Scholarship at Oakwood University: https://give.oakwood.edu/pr-r-bellinger-schol/