EARLVILLE – Kenneth S. Balla, 86, of South Main Street, passed away Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the Community Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility in Hamilton.
He was born on May 10, 1926 in South Acworth, N.H., a son of Stephen and Catherine Demond Balla. He attended Sherburne High School and then was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. On June 7, 1947, Kenneth married Dorothy M. Ratcliff in Plymouth. They made their home in Earlville where Ken was a truck driver who owned and operated Ken Balla & Son.
Ken was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Earlville. He was a member of the Earlville Volunteer Fire Department for over 60 years. He was a former member of the American Legion Post #236 of Earlville; the S-E Band Boosters and the former Earlville Booster Club. Ken was an enthusiastic rock and gem collector who enjoyed spending time at the Herkimer Diamond Mines.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Dorothy; his children, Sharon and Lawrence Lloyd of New Berlin; Brenda and Peter Bronstad of Marietta; Mary and John Brinser of Hummelstown, PA; Lucy and Lloyd Baker of Sherburne; Kenneth Jr. and Joyce Balla of Harcourt, IA; Debra and Michael Harris of New Berlin; half-sisters, Florence (Charles) Storey of FL; Agnes Sawyer of NH and Mary (Ronald) Peek of FL; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; an honorary granddaughter, Pat Wiltsie of Earlville; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Alfred Balla, a sister, Arlene Meldrim, and a great-grandson, Logan Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday from the First United Methodist Church, Earlville, followed by interment in the Earlville Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Earlville Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 37, Earlville, NY 13332; or to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-0518.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.