Barbara Marie Balata

Barbara M. Balata, 81, passed away Feb. 19, 2025.

She was the daughter of the late Elmer and Mary (Glinka) Balata and preceded in death by her brothers, Kenneth Balata and Jeffrey Balata.  

A graduate of Brush High School in Cleveland, Barbara received a graduate degree from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree from Northwestern University, where she was a graduate assistant, and an ESD from University of Dayton.

Barbara ran track for the Cleveland Track Club in high school and qualified for the Pan Am Games as an alternate.  She worked as an educator in grades K-12 at Maumee City Schools and Centerville City Schools.  She was an assistant professor at University of Dayton, an adjunct professor at Sinclair Community College and served on curriculum committees, a middle school advisor and athletic coordinator at Centerville City Schools.

Barbara also taught private golf and tennis lessons at the Green County Parks and Recreation department, umpired girls’ summer softball throughout the tri-county area and was co-founder and director of athletic summer camps.  She also played ASA and ASSSA softball on Dayton area teams receiving Dayton Amateur Softball Commission’s Hall of Fame induction and ASA Ohio All Star and refereed intercollegiate women’s basketball and volleyball.

Outside of work, she enjoyed running, swimming, driving her Mustang, walking on the Outer Banks beaches, riding her recumbent trike and spending time with her co-bred American Kennel Club wire fox terriers champions.  She was a member of the Wire Fox Terrier Club of the Central States.

Private graveside services will be held Wednesday Feb. 26 at Glen Cemetery, Port Jefferson, Ohio.

Memorials may be made to
Samaritan’s Purse
PO Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 262-1980
Website:  www.samaritanspurse.org

Condolences may be expressed to Barbara’s family at, www.cromesfh.com