Ralph E. Balius

Ralph Edgar Balius, Sr., of St. Martin, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. 

Ralph was a life-long resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was a class of 1960 graduate of St. Martin High School and played on the very first SMHS football team. He was proud of his time serving in the Mississippi National Guard and often reminisced of time spent with his fellow Guardsmen. Ralph spent many years as a member and Fire Chief of the Fort Bayou Volunteer Fire Department. His sons and some of his grandsons followed in his footsteps over the years. Ralph retired with 40 years of employment in maintenance and with the Hazmat team/fire brigade at International Paper Company, Moss Point Mill, where many of his long-time coworkers became great friends. Ralph was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. 

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Edwina (Deloney) Balius; his brother, Sydney Balius; and sister-in-law, Gloria; and his grandson, Joseph “Joey” Balius. 

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Faye (Adolphson) Balius; his brother, Arnold (Helen) Balius; his 5 children, Eddie (Donna) Balius, Chris (Robin) Balius, Matt Balius, Nick (Christine) Balius, and Anna (Will) Overstreet. His surviving relatives also include 14 grandchildren and their spouses, and 17 great grandchildren. Ralph was well loved and leaves behind a large extended family and many friends. 

Pallbearers are his grandsons, Jay Balius, Tommy Balius, Joshua Robertston, Austin Balius, Jacob Hilton, and Ralph “Eddie” Balius, III.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Monday, March 4, 2024 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Ocean Springs. Friends may visit from 9:30am until service time. Burial will follow at Bosarge Cemetery in St. Martin.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ralph Edgar Balius, Sr.