William E. “Bal” Balchunas

William E. “Bal” Balchunas, 95, of Kittanning passed away Saturday at Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry, Mars.

He was born on Aug. 31, 1919, in Franklin to the late George and Josephine Balchunas.

He married Mary Henrietta Pytleski, who preceded him in death on Aug. 26, 2003.

He attended the St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning.

He graduated from Franklin High School, where he greatly enjoyed playing nose guard for the football team.

After high school, he worked for Franklin Steel and the Erie Railroad.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas, and in Kaneohe Air Base in Hawaii, where he served active duty in the Pacific Theater. He was an airman who did Morse code on the Navy planes in flight.

Upon returning from active duty, he enlisted with the Pennsylvania State Police, where he was a motor patrolman and a criminal investigator for 28 years. He spent much of his time in undercover gambling and homicide work. For 12 years, he was the Armstrong County detective.

He was a member of the Kittanning VFW and the Elks, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Retired State Police Association of Pennsylvania.

He enjoyed being in the outdoors, fishing and visiting the ocean, and hunting rabbits and deer.

He treasured and adored his daughter, Valarie, and her family, providing loving support and caring for them until the end.

He is survived by his daughter, Valarie (John) Kennedy of Valencia, and his three grandchildren, Jacob, Taylor and Mayson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, George Balchunas, and his sister, Pearl Gladys.

Balchunas — The family and friends of William E. “Bal” Balchunas, who passed away Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at theMantini Funeral Home, 701 Sixth Ave., Ford City.A prayer service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in the St. Mary Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning, with the Father Douglas Dorula as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.