Fayetteville - Retired US Army Command Sergeant Major George R. Beldon, 89, died Sunday, December 21, 2014.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Erna Hirschmann Beldon.

He is survived by his son, John Beldon of Fayetteville; daughter Diana Cavano and husband Jeffrey Cavano of Dumfries, Virginia; three grandchildren, Andrew Cavano, Carolina Mongeon, both of Dumfries, Virginia, and Jeffrey Paul Cavano of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; three great-grandchildren, Isabel Cavano, Bram McGartland and Roch Mongeon; and sister Betty Candy of El Cajon, California.

Born in Ashland, Kentucky, George was a talented athlete in youth, played football in high school and at Georgia Tech, and was a lifelong fan of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball. He served in the US Army Air Corps as a navigator in WWII, did tours of duty in Japan, Germany, Italy and two tours in Vietnam. George received his BA in history, was an avid reader of politics and history, and loved his many Boston Terriers.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014, at 10 am at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm at George's home at 6462 Windy Creek Way in Fayetteville.