A Funeral Mass for William K. Balser, 84, of Newark, will be held at St. Leonard Catholic Church, 57 Dorsey Mill Rd., Heath, 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, March 9, 2016 with Fr. William Hritsko as celebrant and Rev. G. Michael Gribble as con-celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military honors provided by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

Bill, a parishioner of St. Leonard Catholic Church, died at The Ohio State University Medical Center on Saturday, March 5, 2016. He was born in Ravenna, Ohio on September 22, 1931 to the late Karl Edward and Frances Marie (Hipple) Balser.

Bill was retired from the B&O/CSX Railroad where he was the chief train dispatcher. He received both a Bachelor and Master Degree in Education from The Ohio State University and substitute taught for eight years at St. Francis de Sales and Blessed Sacrament Elementary Schools.

He was a United States Army Veteran having served during the Korean Conflict, and according to his granddaughter, Bill also served during the Revolutionary War. His devotion to his country was constant, evidenced by the many different capacities in which he continued to serve. Bill was a member of the American Legion Post 804 where he was Past Commander at the Post, District, State, and National levels. He was a longtime member of the Licking County Veterans Alliance, paying tribute on a daily basis to the veterans of Licking County as a member of the honor guard.

Through his works with the American Legion, Bill became involved with Buckeye Boys State, dedicating over 25 years which was recently acknowledged with the naming of "Balser City".

Bill was also greatly involved with athletics, refereeing basketball and umpiring baseball for 30 years within Licking County. He coached children at all age levels and worked on the construction of the current North Newark Little League site.

It has been stated that Bill's legacy will continue to be remembered by the many adults and children that he has impacted over the years. Included are the members of his own family who Bill cherished and was extremely devoted. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude 'Trudy' (Dietzel) Balser, of the home; his children and their spouses, Robert Edward (Catherine) Balser of Monroe, Michigan, Stephen Charles (Donna) Balser of High Point, North Carolina, and Carolyn Ann (Thomas) Prince of Heath; four grandchildren, William James (Mary Kate) Balser, Matthew Alan Balser, Justin Robert (Erika) Balser, and Jennifer Lynn (Devin) Rudolph; sister-in-law, Joan Elizabeth Hauser; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Charles George (LaRue) Balser; sister, Florence Colopy; and brother-in-law, Wilbur Hauser.

Friends and family may call from 2-4 and 6-9 P.M. Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, where a Vigil Service will be held at 8:30
P.M.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Licking Veterans Alliance or Buckeye Boys State.

To share your memory of Bill or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com.