Obituary and final arrangements for former Lansing Mayor Bill W. Balthis

Bill W. Balthis, 76, Inverness passed away March 16, 2016 at the Hospice of Citrus & The Nature Coast in Inverness. Mr. Balthis was born in Richmond, IN on Aug 18, 1939 to the late William and Mary Elizabeth (Woods) Balthis and moved to Florida from Lansing, IL. He and his wife owned and operated Oakwood Insurance Agency in Lansing, IL. Bill served as the Mayor of Lansing for 8 years and the State House of Representatives for the State of Illinois in Springfield, IL for 6 years. He served our country in the U.S. Air Force. His affiliations include the First United Methodist Church of Inverness, VFW Post in Lansing, IL, Kiwanis Club, Past President of the Park District in Lansing, past president of the Babe Ruth Baseball League, and former president of the Regency Park Condominium Association for 9 years. He was an avid golfer.

He is survived by his wife, Joann “Jody” (Trisler) Balthis; 4 sons, Bill (Tammy) Rhinehart of Losantville, IN; Tye (Lynn) Balthis, Yankton, SD; Rodney Balthis, Hobart, IN; J. William (Stephanie) Balthis, Schererville, IN; 1 daughter, Robin (Jerry) Grable, Greenville, SC; 1 brother, Bill Balthis, Greenville, OH; 3 sisters, Donna Church, Sugarland, TX; Linda Jo Pate, Centerville, IN; Marilyn Caldwell, Centerville, OH; 12 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard, and his sister, Jane.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service on Friday, March 25, 2016 at 1:00 PM from the Chas E Davis Funeral Home of Inverness with Hospice Chaplain Dan Lyman officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12 noon on Friday until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Hospice of Citrus & The Nature Coast, PO Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464.

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Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Mar. 20, 2016