Frederick Alton Balius

Frederick Alton Balius, 89, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Thursday, December 19, 2013 in Covington, Louisiana. He was born in Biloxi, MS on February 24, 1924 to Adolph and Sophie Balius. He was a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast until he moved to Mandeville, Louisiana in 2008. Fred served his country in the US Army in Europe during WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired in 1986 from the US Naval Home in Gulfport, MS after forty-one years of federal service. His service included positions as a soldier, nurse’s aide, preservation mechanic, security guard, and painter. Mr. Balius was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Doris Murphy Balius; parents, Adolph and Sophie Balius of Biloxi; sister, Helen Mountjoy of Ocean Springs; and brothers, Wesley and Lionel Balius of Biloxi. He is survived by his children; four sons, Fredrick A. Balius, Jr. (Julie) of Thurmont, MD, John E. Balius (Marti) of Mandeville , LA, B. Jeffery Balius (Lizette) of Mandeville, LA, and Richard B. Balius (Paige) of Austin, TX; three daughters, Mary Anne Walker (Art) of Gulfport, MS, Debra K. McCann (George) of Folsom, LA, and Angela F. Moody (David) of Flower Mound, TX; eight grandchildren, Chet (Lucy), Stuart, Trent (Natalie), Kyle, Ross, Lee, Nicole and Lance; step grandchild, Josh; step great-grandchild, Ryan; and sister, Mildred Balius of Biloxi, MS. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to: www.woundedwarriorproject.org Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 75817, Topeka, KS 66675 The funeral service is Friday, December 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport where friends may visit beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery with Army honors. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com