Obituary for Jean C. Balling

                Ninety-three years and one week after taking her first breath, Jean Balling took her last, following a brief illness.

                Jean Rebecca Collins was born on November 13, 1924, in Federalsburg, Maryland, to Delawareans Mary and Fred Collins.  Shortly after Jean’s birth, the family returned to The First State and the University of Delaware farm in Newark, where her father served as the long tenured farm manager.

                Hers was an idyllic childhood on the farm, spent with her parents and older brother Burton.  A cheerleader at Newark High School, Jean caught the eye, and heart, of William Joseph (Bill) Balling.  The high school classmates married in March 1944, with the groom proudly wearing his Army uniform.

                Jean and Bill’s first son, William J. Balling, Jr., always known as Chip, was born the following year, while Bill was overseas during WWII.  Once Bill returned, they settled back in Newark where Bill completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University of Delaware and took a position as a chemist with Hercules Chemical Company.

                Their second son, Steve, joined the family in 1952.  A few years later, job transfers with Hercules led to new homes and neighbors in Pitman, New Jersey, and then Walnut Creek, California.  Once their sons were grown, Jean and Bill had a brief yet memorable overseas assignment in Pakistan as well as position relocations to Glens Falls, New York, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

                Wherever she went, Jean made friends quickly, and kept them.  Well known for her cheery disposition, welcoming “How you?,” and regular brisk walks, Jean could always be counted on to fill in at a bridge table, join a group for a round of golf, drive friends for outings, contribute walnut ball cookies to a party, or invite others over for a glass of wine.  Wherever she was, Jean loved being in sunny, well-lit spaces; for many, she was the light that flooded a room when she entered.

                During their 60 years of marriage, Bill and Jean traveled primarily to visit her brother Burton and wife, Bobbie, and their family, and her mother in Delaware, Bill’s mother, brother Frank, Jr. and his wife Norma, and their family in Minnesota, and friends in states near and far.  Chip and his wife Paige, and Steve and his wife Carolyn, enticed them to travel to visit them in Washington state and California, respectively, and to other places as well.  Vacations spent with her sons, nieces and their families were highlight events for Jean, providing many opportunities for her to exclaim “We’re making memories!”

                Four years after Bill’s passing in 2004, Jean moved to Westminster Village in Dover, Delaware, near her beloved nieces Kim Cloutier (Fran) in Dover and Kris Collins in Laurel, Delaware.  Great-nephew Matt (Britt) and his three kids were close enough in Pennsylvania for regular visits.  Jean’s nine years at Westminster brought new and dear friends and new activities, including several Westminster party committees, knitting for soldiers, being the driver on expeditions and countless bridge games.

                During Jean’s final days at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, her room was continually filled with her family, and get well and birthday cards occupied every empty space.

                She was preceded in death by her brother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew-in-law, niece, and husband.  She leaves behind friends too numerous to mention and family who will always remember her with a toast (“Here’s to love!”) and a good-night send-off of “It’s been another nice day!”

                A celebration of Jean’s life will be held on Saturday, December 16 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at Westminster Village Community Center, 191 Westminster Drive, Dover 19904.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Benevolent Support Fund at Westminster Village, or to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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