Gene E. Balliet

Gene E. Balliet, 82, of Elmore, died Saturday, February 9, 2008, in St. Charles-Mercy Hospital, Oregon. Gene was born March 12, 1925, in Auburn, Indiana, to Russell and Thelma Saurs Balliet. On July 4, 1943, in Toledo, Gene married Frances L. McDonald, who preceded him in death in 2002. Together he and his wife co-owned the Balliet Sentry Hardware store in Genoa for 20 years. Gene also worked for 25 years at Pure Oil Refinery in Toledo and would later drive school bus for 20 years until his retirement in 1988 from the Genoa school district. Being a part of the Greatest Generation, he served in the United States Coast Guard in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He was a member of St. Paul Trinity United Methodist Church in Elmore and a member of the Portage Lodge #351 and the Genoa and Oak Harbor Masons and was also active in the Eastern Stars. Gene was an avid golfer and loved to travel the United States with his wife, Fran, and their dog, Rudy. He also enjoyed fishing for perch in Lake Erie. At age 82 Gene traveled to Europe and stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Gene is survived by daughters, Louise Sleek of Gibsonburg, Donna Witter of Oak Harbor, Kathy Balliet of Elko, Nevada, and Beverly John Haar of Elmore; grandchildren, Jeffrey, Troy, Cathie, Heather, Shannon, Sean, Rachael, Zach, Levi and Ashley and great grandchildren, Benjamin, Chris, Matt, Jackie, Dakota, Arreonna, Nioka, Kayla, Emily and Dalton. His parents, wife, Frances, brother, Grandville Ty Balliet, and sons-in-law, Tex Sleek and GlennWitter, preceded him in death. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 13, 2008, from 2-8 p.m. in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, Genoa, with the family present 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Thursday February 14, 2008, in the funeral home. Interment will take place at a later date in Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery. Memorials for Gene may be directed to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, or the Shriners hospitals.