James Balas, 88, U.S. Steel Retiree

He was born May 27, 195 in Lorain where he was raised and lived until moving to Amherst in 1944. He has been a resident of Grafton since 1980.

He was employed at U.S. Steel, Lorain for 46 years retiring in 1980 as a machinist. He was a member of the New Beginning Worship Center in Lorain, the LaGrange Lions club and he was active with the Steel Union Local #1104. He was a builder and constructed fifteen homes in Amherst and Brownhelm Township and enjoyed gardening, fishing and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of twenty-three years, Zella Gave Balas, his son Ronald James Balas, Timothy Jay Balas, and James Scott Balas all of Brownhelm Township, his daughter Shelly Mericle of Brownhelm Township, his stepson Walter Cadger, III of Adelanto, CA and Gregory Allen Cadger of Placerville, CA, sixteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and his brother Daniel Bayliss of Medford, OR.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of thirty-six years Lisa Balas in 1976, his son Wayne Balas in 1996 by his great grandson Maxwell Lee in 2001 by his parents Steven and Martha Balazs (nee Szabo) and by three brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Funeral services will be held Monday, august 4, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. from the funeral home. The Rev. William Mouer, pastor of Family Fellowship Church in Amherst will officiate. Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, 44035.