Raymond P. Balbo

St. Joseph, MI – Raymond P. Balbo, 74, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2008, at his home in St. Joseph. A Memorial Gathering celebrating his life will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday evening, February 29, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Hospice at Home, Animal Aid, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Raymond was born July 28, 1933, in Leechburg, Pennsylvania. He was one of four children born to Valentino and Santina Balbo. Raymond graduated from Leechburg, PA, High School in 1951. He served his county in the United States Army during Peacetime. Raymond was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and a life long member of the Marconi Lodge in Leechburg, PA. Raymond is survived by his children, Anthony (Deb) Balbo of Benton Harbor and Gina Balbo of St. Joseph; step-children, Jeff Jackson, Cheryl Brown, Virginia Powell, Linda Jannert, and Gloria Bickerstaff; and by his brother, Peter Balbo of Allen Park, Michigan and sister Anna (Jun) Hadel of Leechburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Ron Balbo.