Carolyn Elizabeth Bellware

BELLWARE, Carolyn Elizabeth (Downing), age 89, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Hospice on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Born in Cincinnati, she moved to Oakwood at age 8 and has been a lifelong resident of the Greater Dayton Area. She graduated from Oakwood High School, class of 1948, and attended Western College for Women, now a part of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

After modeling for Rikes, Thals, Donenfelds, The Met, and Elder Beermans in high school, she worked a variety of interesting jobs, but she always felt that being a loving wife and mother to her family was her most important calling. Carolyn was a very gifted artist who had a scholarship to the Dayton Art Institute at the age of 10. She acted in school productions, was a member of Quill and Scroll, the high school yearbook and paper staff, and the National Forensic League, played field hockey, rode horses, and loved to play the piano and sing.

She has been a 78-year member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir. Her home was always filled with music and she inspired that love in her children and grandchildren. She liked to sew, bake, and can the fresh produce her husband grew in his garden. Her family always enjoyed her special treats like cakes, jams, and cobblers.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 65 years, James David Bellware, her father, Joseph M. Downing, and mother, Mildred E. (Thie) Downing. She is survived by her 4 children, Diane E. Weyrauch (Richard), James L. Bellware (Angela), David J. Bellware (Nona), and John V. Bellware (Amy), and 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Louis, Katherine, James J., Jennifer, Samuel, Emily Grace, Annika, Shaylee, Adam, and Olivia, her sister, Irene (Downing) Carmichael, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.


Family will greet friends from 5-7 pm on February 27, 2020, at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E Stroop Rd., Kettering, OH 45429. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Anna Owen and Rev. Dr. Richard Baker at 11 am on February 28, 2020, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkenson St., Dayton, OH 45402 (free parking straight across the street, handicap parking on Perry St). To be followed by burial and graveside service at Miami Valley Memory Gardens, 1639 E. Lytle 5 Points Rd., Centerville, OH 45458. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio or Westminster Presbyterian Church. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the Kettering Memorial Hospital doctors and staff as well as the staff at The Suites at Walnut Creek, Hospice of Dayton, Rev. Sue Hamilton, and friends, Linda Lane, Bill and Jayne McDougall.