Richard J. Balsley

Richard John Balsley was born on June 10, 1939, on Gest Street hill in Price Hill, Cincinnati Ohio.  He was one of six boys raised by his parents William and Margaret Balsley in a three room duplex with his maternal grandmother and aunt living immediately next door.  As a child, he played knothole baseball, loved hanging out at the Boys Club in lower Price Hill, and had a close group of friends who called themselves “The Wilder Street Gang”.  Richard attended Blessed Sacrament grade school where he received all his sacraments, was an altar server for mass, and met the love of his life, Carol Thomas Balsley, in the seventh grade. 

After graduating from Central High School in 1959, Richard joined the United States Marine Corp. where he honorably served our country until 1965.  He married Carol Thomas Balsley on May 6, 1961, at Blessed Sacrament Church.  Within a year after their wedding, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Debi Balsley Holthaus and moved to their new home on Juvene Way in Delhi.  Four years later, a second beautiful baby girl, Donna Balsley Bruce, arrived and their family was complete.  Richard and his family faithfully attended Our Lady of Victory parish for four decades and Richard lived in his Juvene Way home for over 60 years.

Richard worked in the printing industry for over 40 years, beginning at the West End Printing company with his father, William Balsley, and then spent over 38 years at the C. J. Krehbiel Company in Cincinnati where he became the Bindery Supervisor.  He retired in 2001 from his “first” career.  After retirement, he began working at Meals on Wheels distributing food to home bound neighbors.  He truly viewed this work as a ministry developing strong relationships with many of the neighbors he visited.  He then worked for The American Red Cross, leading the distribution of the United Way materials to Corporations, and served on the Disaster Recovery Team along with his wife Carol.  Richard and Carol loved their work at The American Red Cross and made many friends through their years there.  Richard was then recruited to work at The Western Southern Company in Security where he worked in many capacities at the main office and the 3rd and Broadway garage in Cincinnati.  He retired for the third and final time in September 2023 at the age of eighty-four.

Our Dad, Richard, was a man of honor, faith, and loyalty.  His wife, and family were the single most important priorities in his entire life.  He was fast in offering help to friends and especially family.  He was our rock, our biggest cheerleader, and he showed us unconditional love every single day.  He was the most unselfish man our family knew; always putting the needs of others before his own.  Richard became a member of St. William Parish 20 years ago.  He faithfully attended mass and a weekly holy hour which reflected his strong belief in and love for Jesus Christ.  Richard had an enormous zest for life and loved to travel, especially on cruises.  In addition to ballroom dancing, he and his wife Carol traveled extensively through the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and South America.  In the last 2 years of his life, he went to the UK, Norway, France, California, Arizona, West Virginia, Florida, Nashville, the Caribbean, Italy, Spain, Greece, Montenegro, Gibraltar, and Vatican City!   He found happiness being with his family on cruise ships, on the beach or listening to local live music.  He loved Michelob Ultra and Fireball and always was game for a good happy hour and dinner!  People were drawn to him in conversation and saw his genuine, kind, fun-loving nature.  He leaves behind a legacy of faith and love that our family will cherish forever.  He left this life doing one of the things he loved most, cruising the world.  We take comfort in knowing he is with our Lord, and dancing once again with our beautiful mother in heaven. 

Richard is preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Carol (nee Thomas) Balsley, his parents, William and Margaret (nee Rockel) Balsley, his brothers, Robert Balsley and Marvin Balsley as well as sisters-in-laws Carol Balsley, Nancy Balsley, Bobbie Balsley and Evelyn Balsley and several nieces and nephews.  Richard leaves behind his two daughters, Debi Balsley Holthaus (Gerard), Donna Balsley Bruce (George), grandchildren Melissa Greve Franke, Robby Greve, Maria Bruce, and Michelle Bruce; and great-grandchildren, Gavin Franke, and Nora Franke; brothers William Balsley, Donald Balsley (Joyce), Joseph Balsley and brother-in-law George “Don” Thomas (Sally) of Melbourne Florida.   He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends from all over the country.

Visitation will be Friday, August 30, 2024, from 9AM-11AM, St. William Catholic Church, 4108 W. 8th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45205.  Mass of Christian burial following visitation at 11AM. (Click here for Livestream of the funeral Mass on YouTube).
Memorials can be made to the St. William Monsignor Kennedy Scholarship Fund, c/o St. William Church or St. Jude Hospital, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,  Memphis, TN 38105.  Ralph Meyer & Deters Funeral Home serving the family.

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