George Eddie Balentine

A Celebration of Life for Mr. George Eddie Balentine formerly of Decatur, Alabama  will be 11:00am, Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Dover Delaware.  Interment will be in Sharon Hill Memorial Park, Dover Delaware. Services are entrusted to Evan W. Smith Funeral Services, Dover Delaware.

George Eddie Balentine was born in Limestone County, Alabama on December 12, 1930 to the late Leroy, Sr. and Eunice Balentine.  He departed this life on March 13, 2018.  He was the oldest of nine siblings.

He accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age. He was educated in Decatur, Alabama School System and later attended Alabama A&M.

In 1950, he joined the United States Air Force where he served 20 years. He was in the first integrated class of Flight Engineers and the second generation of the Tuskeegee Airmen; and he was affectionately called “Sarge”.

He was happily married to the lovely Mary Ellen Wiggins for 66 years. Four (4) children were born to this union.

He was employed at Kent County Vo-Tech in Woodside, Delaware as an Auto Mechanic instructor; He was a volunteer football coach at William Henry High School, Dover,  Delaware.  He was a bus driver for Apache & Alpha Tours in New Jersey and was self-employed at B&C Inc. a home improvement company.

Bro Balentine was an active member of Union Baptist Church, where he faithfully and tirelessly served in numerous ministries, including Trustee, Deacon, Chairman of the Deacon Board,  President of the Senior Choir and the Baptist Men. He served as Superintendent of the Sunday School and was a vibrant teacher as well.

While serving as Youth Director of Union Baptist Church, he was instrumental in exposing the youth of Union to national travel. They traveled to the National  Sunday School and BTU Conventions across the United States. He was most proudest of the Union Baptist Church Drill Team, and serving as a Boy Scout Leader to Troop #110.

Although he enjoyed and kept active in the community and church, he was a devoted  husband, father to his children and a caring and loving grandfather. He was most happy at family gatherings.

Preceded in death by his two brothers: Alfred L. Balentine and Leroy Balentine, Jr.; two sisters: Mazie Hollingsworth and Betty Jean McKissic.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his loving wife, Mary Ellen; his children, Yuvonne Harris of Forrest Hill, Maryland; Frederick Balentine (Eunise) of Edgewater Park, New Jersey; Michael Balentine, Sr. (Cynthia) of Flint, Michigan; Carol Jackson of Freehold Township, New Jersey; four sisters; Dorothy Louise Woods (George) of Cleveland, Ohio; Annie Ruth Harris of Decatur, Alabama; Eulylia Balentine of Huntsville, Alabama; Vernette Elliott (Anthony) of Madison, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Annie Mae of Decatur, Alabama; One Aunt, Claudine Hines of Cleveland Ohio. nine grandchildren, fiive great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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