University friend Carol Belk dies

Longtime UNC Charlotte friend Carol Grotnes Belk, the wife of UNC Charlotte benefactor Irwin “Ike” Belk, died Aug. 25 at The Cypress.

Born in Park Ridge, Ill., Carol Belk was a founding trustee to Charlotte Latin School and served on the board of Discovery Place. She and Ike Belk were married almost 66 years, and Carol is survived by her husband and their sons and daughters William Irwin Belk (Georgia), Irene Belk Miltimore (Dean), Marilyn Belk Wallis (Edward) and Carl Grotnes Belk (Beth).

Three UNC Charlotte professorships are named for Carol Grotnes Belk. They are the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Full Professor and Endowed Chair of Urban Education, held by Chance Lewis; the Carol Grotnes Belk Endowed Chair of Nursing, held by Stephanie Woods; and the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics held by Daniel Janies.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.