Champaign County OhArchives Obituaries.....Balmut, Marjorie Louise (Zerkle) February 21, 2009 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Johnson-Heber gapeachprtnerz@bellsouth.net December 16, 2012, 2:10 pm The Springfield News-Sun abstract BALMUT, Margery Louise (Zerkle) 84, of 421 E. Main St, St. Paris, passed peacefully in the home of her daughter n February 21, 2009. Margery was born on November 30, 1924, in Thackery, Ohio, the daughter of Byford and Lottie Leonard Zerkle. She moved to St. Paris while very young and lived there her entire life. Mrs. Balmut graduated from Johnson-St. Paris High school in 1942, first in her class academically and first chair violin in the county orchestra. She married Henry (Hank) Balmut on August 19, 1945, in the St. Paris Baptist Church upon his return from serving his country during WWII as a member of the 8th Army Air Corp, 390th Bomber Group in England. Mrs. Balmut was an accomplished seamstress, violinist, and pianist. A journalist for newspapers across the state, including the Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Daily New, Urbana Daily Citizen, Piqua Call, and Springfield News-Sun, she was also employed by the Graham Local Schools as high school secretary. A book-keeper for Farm View Meats, her father's grocery and custom meat locker, she also served the First Baptist Church in St. Paris as Financial Secretary for many years. Mrs. Balmut was a member of the St. Paris Public Library Board of Trustees and earlier served as the library's clerk-treasurer. She had a lifelong love-affair with books, instilling the love of reading in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Balmut was a 4-H leader, active in the Democratic Party, serving as Democratic Central committee woman, and was an elected official of the St. Paris Village Council, serving her community for many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of St. Paris and the St. Paris Methodist church. She was also a member of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always sacrificing for the good of her family, she was lovingly called "Grandma Hank" by all of her grandchildren. Her greatest passion was to spend time with her grandchildren and great- grandchildren, reading and singing. She will be forever missed by her two daughters, five grandchildren: and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and her parents. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of St. Paris, 121 S. Church Street, St. Paris on Friday, February 27th. Calling hours will be held at 10 a.m, one hour prior to the funeral. Dr. James VanZile, pastor of the First Baptist church of St. Paris, officiating. Private burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Paris. Memorial contributions may be sent in memory of Mrs. Balmut to the St. Paris Public Library, 127 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 740, St. Paris. The family sincerely thanks longtime caregiver, Karen Wilson, and Vonnie Engle & Mindy Shirk, Cornerstone Hospice, Urbana. Published in the Springfield News-Sun on 2/23/2009 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/champaign/obits/b/balmut1862gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ohfiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb