Loretta Bellman

Loretta "Lori" Bellman, age 78, of Cridersville passed away on August 25, 2025. She was born in Mousie, Kentucky on March 22, 1947 to the late Sol and Margaret (Smith) Wicker. On January 18, 1969 she married Dennis Joseph Bellman, who preceded her in death on November 30, 1974.
After graduating from Perry High School in 1965, she received her Associates degree from Lima Technical College and became a business associate at Neon Products for several years, and later became a business manager of Country and Crestwood Estates. Lori was an incredibly strong, independent and dedicated woman, who navigated all of the difficulties life threw her way with a quiet grace that she rarely allowed others to see.
After tragically losing her husband, she was fearless in her pursuits to take care of her family on her own. Despite the hardships, she was selfless in her efforts to help others in any way she could. She was a pillar in her community, always volunteering and dedicating herself to the causes she valued. As she raised her daughter alone, she was an active supporter of Cridersville Elementary, including PTO, helping with school plays, and volunteering in the school library. She coached summer youth softball for several years. She was also active in several bowling leagues. Lori was currently active as a Cridersville Historical Society Trustee. Throughout her retired years, she passionately spent her time and energy honoring the history of the Village of Cridersville as well as finding ways to honor veterans in her community. She could be found helping the Lions Club, volunteering for annual bean suppers, chicken noodle suppers, spaghetti suppers, Easter Egg hunts, fall festivals, summer parade floats, Christmas tree lightings, and Veterans flag display days along main street. She volunteered her time at the Cridersville Garden Club, supporting the annual mum sales and watering the town flowers on a regular basis. She organized the annual quarter auction as well as greatly supported the Toy Drive for "Christmas On Main Street" each year. As a major supporter of the Cridersville Historical Society, she helped to organize the Veterans Memorial Wall currently on display at the museum. Lori participated in the Young Historians program and always ensured that the kids were well taken care of with snacks. If there was an event in Cridersville, she was always right there lending a hand, dedicating her caring heart to others.
Besides volunteering, she was also an avid University of Kentucky Basketball fan, a March Madness enthusiast, and loved spending time on her porch swing visiting with neighbors. Lori loved her family more than anything and was endlessly proud of her daughter, son in law, and especially her beloved granddaughters. She will always be remembered for the loyalty she showed in so many different ways, as well as her strength, bravery, independence, and the legacy of all those she helped over the years.
She is survived by her daughter- Jennie Lea (Keith) Horner of Wapakoneta; her granddaughters- Emma and Denni Grace Horner; and her sisters- Janice (Chris) McKinney of Lima, and Linda Wicker of St. Mary's.
She was preceded in death by her brothers- Alec and Delmos "Bud" Wicker; her sister- Diana Bailey; and her infant son- Joseph Lee Bellman who passed away on September 5, 1970.
A gathering will be held in Lori's honor on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home in Cridersville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Cridersville Historical Society.