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Obituary

Donald Eugene Balty was carefully transferred from the loving hands of his family into the arms of his Heavenly Father at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2009, at his home in Milan. He was 71 years old.

The Balty family invites friends and family to visitation at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, on Sunday, Jan. 11, from 2 to 5 p.m. The funeral will be Monday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m., at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Gideon's International.

He was born in Nyssa, Ore., on May 24, 1937, the only child of the Rev. Raymond and Amie Bender Balty. Donald made Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior at the age of 15.

Donald fell in love with Glenda Garton as they returned to Kansas with their parents from the first conference of the Bible Missionary Church in Denver, Colo., in 1956. They became engaged three months later and married on April 19, 1957.

He is survived by Glenda, his wife of 51 years; and three children, Tim (and Carolyn), Fairbanks, Alaska, Lisa (and Charles) Croyle, Des Moines, Iowa, and David (and Amy), Atlanta, Ga. Don and Glenda have seven grandchildren.

Don owned and operated First Choice Auto Sales Center, Rock Island, for 16 years. He was a member of the Illinois Auto Dealers Association and the National Independent Auto Dealers Association.

A member of the Coal Valley Bible Missionary Church, Donald lived a life of integrity, devoted to God and his family.

He had many interests among which were collecting books, cars and travel.

A second funeral will occur near his boyhood home in Mankato, Kan., on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Don will be interred at Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kan., where he will be awaiting Resurrection morning.

Online condolences may be left at www.wheelanpressly.com.

Comments

LaRona said…
Praying for you during this week of intense emotion....

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