Dolores Balyeat

DOLORES ANN (JOHNS) BALYEAT passed away early Sunday morning December 22, 2019. She was born December 31, 1929 in Ojai, CA to Robert A. and Goldie (Miller) Johns who both preceded her in death.

A 1947 graduate and class secretary of Van Wert High School, Dolores continued to organize class reunions for many years. Following high school she worked at the Peoples Bank and Trust, which later became Norwest Bank and then Wells Fargo. She retired from the bank in 1991. Following retirement, she became an active disaster volunteer with the American Red Cross and responded to numerous disasters both locally and across the country. She was also a member of the Van Wert Area Alumni Marching Band and the Second Time Arounders Marching Band, appearing in many local parades and the Three Rivers Festival.

Dolores was an avid gardener, golfer, reader, knitter and an accomplished artist who enjoyed drawing and painting.

She is survived by children: Dyann Balyeat Ricica, Louis (Martha) Balyeat, and Annette K. Balyeat, all of Van Wert; son-in-law, Gary L. Thomas of Van Wert; grandchildren: Gabrielle Chavarria, Convoy, OH; Andrew J. Thomas, Bradley Thomas, Robert Balyeat, Joseph Balyeat, all of Van Wert, OH; and Abigail Ricica Daniels of Sydney, Australia as well as seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by a daughter, Roberta (Balyeat) Thomas; a son, Jonathan Balyeat, and a son-in-law, Mark D. Ricica.

A memorial service will be held at 1PM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home. The family will receive friend two hour prior than the service, from 11am to 1 pm., on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Dolores' name to The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program for their care and maintenance of the Smiley Park Children's Garden, https://vanwert.osu.edu/give-now.

To share in Dolores's online memorial, please visit www.alspachgearhart.com...

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, 722 S Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891.