Barbara Joanne Balch, 81, died Saturday, December 5, 2009 at Life Care Center of Mount Vernon and was followed in death by her husband, Donald Wallace Balch, just two days later, on December 7, 2009 at the same care center. Both Donald and Barbara had made their home in Anacortes.
Barbara was born on January 25, 1928 in Webb City, Missouri, the daughter of William and Ruby (Chastain) Cusick. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when Barbara was three years old and then to the Los Angeles, California area in 1942. She attended high school in Los Angeles and after graduation enrolled in California State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Barbara became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system at age 16 as a clerk. She spent the next 29 years in various positions throughout the library system.
Don was born on September 10, 1923 in Wellsville, Kansas, the son of Wallace and Bessie (Wilson) Balch. The family moved to California in 1938 and Don attended high school in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school he attended college for two years before starting his career as a painter.
In 1943 he entered the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war he spent five months in the occupation of Japan. During the war he was decorated with a Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
Upon returning to the U.S. Don also became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system as a painting and wallpapering contractor.
It was while both of them were employed by the library system that Barbara met "Mr. Right", Don Balch, and on September 25, 1971 they were married in the middle of both of their lives.
In 1973 Barbara transferred to the Los Angeles police department where she worked until retirement as an administrative assistant in 1979.
They both retired early and in the same year moved to beautiful Anacortes, where they spent the next 30 years together traveling and enjoying their involvement in the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
Barbara is survived by her siblings: William "Bill" (Gai) Cusick, of UT, Alice (Leo) Gonzales, of CA, John Cusick, of CA, Nancy Cannon, of CA, Kathie Laursen, of CA, and Melissa (Ron) Willig, of TX.
Don is survived by his siblings: Evelyn Adams, Duane Balch, Elroy Balch and Ruth Milne.
Memorials for them may be made to the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
A funeral service for Don & Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Anacortes 1st Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
(Obituary published in Skagit Valley Herald, 12/16/2009.)
Barbara was born on January 25, 1928 in Webb City, Missouri, the daughter of William and Ruby (Chastain) Cusick. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when Barbara was three years old and then to the Los Angeles, California area in 1942. She attended high school in Los Angeles and after graduation enrolled in California State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Barbara became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system at age 16 as a clerk. She spent the next 29 years in various positions throughout the library system.
Don was born on September 10, 1923 in Wellsville, Kansas, the son of Wallace and Bessie (Wilson) Balch. The family moved to California in 1938 and Don attended high school in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school he attended college for two years before starting his career as a painter.
In 1943 he entered the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war he spent five months in the occupation of Japan. During the war he was decorated with a Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
Upon returning to the U.S. Don also became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system as a painting and wallpapering contractor.
It was while both of them were employed by the library system that Barbara met "Mr. Right", Don Balch, and on September 25, 1971 they were married in the middle of both of their lives.
In 1973 Barbara transferred to the Los Angeles police department where she worked until retirement as an administrative assistant in 1979.
They both retired early and in the same year moved to beautiful Anacortes, where they spent the next 30 years together traveling and enjoying their involvement in the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
Barbara is survived by her siblings: William "Bill" (Gai) Cusick, of UT, Alice (Leo) Gonzales, of CA, John Cusick, of CA, Nancy Cannon, of CA, Kathie Laursen, of CA, and Melissa (Ron) Willig, of TX.
Don is survived by his siblings: Evelyn Adams, Duane Balch, Elroy Balch and Ruth Milne.
Memorials for them may be made to the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
A funeral service for Don & Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Anacortes 1st Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
(Obituary published in Skagit Valley Herald, 12/16/2009.)
Barbara Joanne Balch, 81, died Saturday, December 5, 2009 at Life Care Center of Mount Vernon and was followed in death by her husband, Donald Wallace Balch, just two days later, on December 7, 2009 at the same care center. Both Donald and Barbara had made their home in Anacortes.
Barbara was born on January 25, 1928 in Webb City, Missouri, the daughter of William and Ruby (Chastain) Cusick. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when Barbara was three years old and then to the Los Angeles, California area in 1942. She attended high school in Los Angeles and after graduation enrolled in California State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Barbara became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system at age 16 as a clerk. She spent the next 29 years in various positions throughout the library system.
Don was born on September 10, 1923 in Wellsville, Kansas, the son of Wallace and Bessie (Wilson) Balch. The family moved to California in 1938 and Don attended high school in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school he attended college for two years before starting his career as a painter.
In 1943 he entered the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war he spent five months in the occupation of Japan. During the war he was decorated with a Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
Upon returning to the U.S. Don also became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system as a painting and wallpapering contractor.
It was while both of them were employed by the library system that Barbara met "Mr. Right", Don Balch, and on September 25, 1971 they were married in the middle of both of their lives.
In 1973 Barbara transferred to the Los Angeles police department where she worked until retirement as an administrative assistant in 1979.
They both retired early and in the same year moved to beautiful Anacortes, where they spent the next 30 years together traveling and enjoying their involvement in the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
Barbara is survived by her siblings: William "Bill" (Gai) Cusick, of UT, Alice (Leo) Gonzales, of CA, John Cusick, of CA, Nancy Cannon, of CA, Kathie Laursen, of CA, and Melissa (Ron) Willig, of TX.
Don is survived by his siblings: Evelyn Adams, Duane Balch, Elroy Balch and Ruth Milne.
Memorials for them may be made to the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
A funeral service for Don & Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Anacortes 1st Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
(Obituary published in Skagit Valley Herald, 12/16/2009.)
Barbara was born on January 25, 1928 in Webb City, Missouri, the daughter of William and Ruby (Chastain) Cusick. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when Barbara was three years old and then to the Los Angeles, California area in 1942. She attended high school in Los Angeles and after graduation enrolled in California State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Barbara became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system at age 16 as a clerk. She spent the next 29 years in various positions throughout the library system.
Don was born on September 10, 1923 in Wellsville, Kansas, the son of Wallace and Bessie (Wilson) Balch. The family moved to California in 1938 and Don attended high school in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school he attended college for two years before starting his career as a painter.
In 1943 he entered the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war he spent five months in the occupation of Japan. During the war he was decorated with a Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
Upon returning to the U.S. Don also became employed by the City of Los Angeles library system as a painting and wallpapering contractor.
It was while both of them were employed by the library system that Barbara met "Mr. Right", Don Balch, and on September 25, 1971 they were married in the middle of both of their lives.
In 1973 Barbara transferred to the Los Angeles police department where she worked until retirement as an administrative assistant in 1979.
They both retired early and in the same year moved to beautiful Anacortes, where they spent the next 30 years together traveling and enjoying their involvement in the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
Barbara is survived by her siblings: William "Bill" (Gai) Cusick, of UT, Alice (Leo) Gonzales, of CA, John Cusick, of CA, Nancy Cannon, of CA, Kathie Laursen, of CA, and Melissa (Ron) Willig, of TX.
Don is survived by his siblings: Evelyn Adams, Duane Balch, Elroy Balch and Ruth Milne.
Memorials for them may be made to the Anacortes 1st Baptist Church.
A funeral service for Don & Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Anacortes 1st Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
(Obituary published in Skagit Valley Herald, 12/16/2009.)
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