Carl Bellotti Jr.

Carl Bellotti, Jr, 93, of Port Neches passed away on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Forever Young in Groves.

Funeral services will be at 11:00am, Saturday, November 4, 2023, at St Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches. Officiating will be Reverend Shane Baxter. Burial will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches. 

Visitation will begin at 9:30am with rosary beginning at 10:30am at Melancon-Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches. 

Carl was born in Brandy Camp, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1930, to Carl Bellotti, Sr., and Lena Antonelli Bellotti. He graduated in 1948 from Horton Township High School in Brandy Camp. After interest from Princeton University on pursuing a baseball career, Carl decided on the professional baseball route. Over the next 2 years he was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox. He signed with the Cardinals and attended spring training in Albany, Georgia. In late 1951, he was drafted to the US Marine Corp for the Korean War. In 1952 he was selected by the Paris Island, SC baseball tour team for the Marine Corp. In 1954-1955 he signed with the San Diego Padres and was assigned to the Salem Senators. In 1955 he joined the Port Arthur Seahawks baseball club where he met and eventually married his wife, Darline. For the next 2 years they traveled while he played for the Roswell Rockets, Waco Pirates, and the Victoria Eagles. In 1957, he played for the Sioux City Soos and welcomed the birth of twin daughters, Sherri, and Terri. From 1957-1958 he continued his career with the Soos. After the birth of their son, Carl III in late 1958, he and Darline moved back to Port Arthur to raise their family. Carl began a career with the USPS which lasted many years, as well as much time spent in local baseball fields as an umpire. He continued friendships with many former teammates, some of whom eventually played MLB. Friendships also continued with professional league umpires for many years. He and his family attended professional baseball games and enjoyed the baseball life for many years. After early retirement, Carl enjoyed several years of farm life at their second home in Kirbyville.  He and Darline enjoyed gardening, raising cattle (which most became pets), fishing in their pond, clearing land and providing all the family with firewood and handmade reindeer Christmas decorations. They spent many memorable years of life at the farm enjoying BBQ’s, Easter celebrations, birthdays, tractor rides, and just enjoying peaceful country life with family, friends, and neighbors. Carl enjoyed his last several years staying active and independent, riding his bicycle hundreds of miles until he was 92 and making many friends along the way. Carl was an alter server at Holy Cross Catholic Church as a young boy through his high school years and remained strong and faithful all his life. He was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus where he made many close friends. In his last several years, he spent many hours at the local library, reading, working newspaper puzzles, and visiting with friends. 

He will be greatly missed by his family and all that loved him. 

Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Darline of 55 years, son, Carl Bellotti III, and great grandson, “Sunshine” Joe Pyburn. 

He is survived by his daughters, Sherri of Castle Rock, CO and Terri of Beaumont, TX, grandchildren, Ryan and wife Amy, Morgan and husband Matthew, Kristen, Allison, Brent and wife, Ashlyn, and great grandchildren, Jack, Jude, Mia, and Maren.