Eugene J. Ballina, 84, of South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, died at 3:25 p.m. Thursday while in the company of family members at Fair Winds Manor in Winfield Township.

Born in Freeport, Sept. 10, 1921, he was the son of Romano "Frank" and Lydia Howard Ballina.

He was a World War II Navy veteran. After the war, he was a coal miner for the Allegheny River Mining Co., Cadogan, for more than 30 years and retired in 1975.

Mr. Ballina was a member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Freeport. He also was a member of the Freeport VFW, the Freeport Eagles Club, the American Legion and the White Star Club.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Surviving are three daughters, Denise (Joe) Ballina-McGinnis of Natrona Heights, Carol Ballina-Hunter of Springdale and Francine (John) Ballina-Valley of Miami, Fla.; and two sons Frank (Sue) Ballina of Saxonburg and Richard (Teresa) Ballina of South Buffalo Township; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Mary Young of Freeport and Julia McCafferty of Buffalo Township also survive.

His wife, Grace Val Jean Howard Ballina, died in 2005. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert and William Ballina; two sisters, Tillie Hause and Nancy Smith; and a grandson, Robert Zanetti Jr.

<B>BALLINA </B>— Friends of Eugene J. Ballina, who died Thursday, March 23, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>REDMOND FUNERAL HOME</B>, 524 High St. Freeport. A parish wake service be held at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. A parting prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Freeport, with the Rev. Thomas Federline officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will be at the church cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department, Market Street, Freeport, PA 16229; or to the South Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department, 695 Freeport Road, Freeport, PA 16229.