Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lewis Earnest Balentine

April 22, 1937 - July 22, 2005

South Bend Tribune 7/26/2005

Lewis E. Balentine, 68, of Roger Street in Osceola, passed away of natural causes on Friday, July 22, 2005, in Saint Joseph Regional Center of Mishawaka. Lewis was born April 22, 1937, to Rufus and Ethel (Wright) Balentine in Tennessee.

On March 23, 1957, Lewis married the former Ms. Grace Irene Felts. Grace preceded him in death, passing in 1998. Surviving are three sons, Darrell (Tammy) Balentine of Osceola, Michael (Janet) Balentine of Middlebury, Indiana, and Mark (Barb) Balentine of Constantine, Michigan, along with one daughter, Sherry (Randy) Borders of Goshen, Indiana. Also surviving are one brother, Gene Balentine of Loretto, Tennessee; and two sisters, Francis Whitten of Iron City, Tennessee, and Dorothy Kilburn of Savannah, Tennessee; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Mr. Balentine was also preceded in death by his brothers, James, Carlos, Clarence and R.T Balentine; and by his sister, Faye Bell.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2005, in the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Osceola. Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2005, in the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Lewis was a member of the Michiana Walleye Club and enjoyed working in his garden, planting and caring for flowers. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.