Beyond Bringing Up Boys

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) C...

Don's vessel made it safely into heaven's port this AM at about 10:00 Central time. Thank you all for your love and support, but especially for your prayers during this very difficult time.

I've never been on a cruise ship, nor have I longed to, by the way, but I am certain that before the vessel leaves the port, there surely must be a series of processes that are completed to allow the vessel to move toward it's destination. So it's been at the Balty's home this week. Don's earthly vessel is on the very brink of departure for his heavenly home. But as David has reminded us: On this side, we say, "There he goes.", but on the other they are saying, "Here he comes!"