Batavia – Loren F. Balduf “Tookie”, age 98, passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family under the care of HomeCare & Hospice.
He was born on January 6, 1924 in Batavia, a son of the late William Balduf and Helen Sharick Balduf.
A World War II Merchant Marines Veteran, he served aboard the USS Joseph Hewes and then on the USS Point Cabrillo. Loren drove school bus for many area schools and organizations including the St Joe’s Drum Corp and retired after 20 years with Oakfield-Alabama School as head mechanic. He volunteered for many years at the East Bethany and LeRoy Senior Meal Sites and loved going to local auctions where he earned the nickname “Dollar Bill Loren”. He enjoyed gardening, carpentry, working on cars, fishing and the annual trips to Black Lake. In the last years of his life Loren was cared for by his daughter Donna; granddaughter Amy and great-granddaughter Chelsea Stiles and her boyfriend Rob Drake.
He is predeceased by his wives, Dorothy Geise Balduf, who passed away on May 25, 1991, Myrtle F. Saar Balduf who passed away on September 11, 2005 and Betty Sinclair Balduf who passed away on August 22, 2021.
He is survived by his children, David (Patricia) Balduf of Greenville, South Carolina and Donna (late Lowry “Larry”) Stiles of Batavia; eleven grandchildren, Christopher (Karen) Balduf, Tiger (Mabel) Balduf, Jennifer (Steve) Thexton, Kevin (Kris) Brinkman, Brian (Danielle) Brinkman, Nicholas (Danyelle) Brinkman, Debora (Joel) Pocock, Amy Stiles, Stacey (Kris) Crossett, Charles (Erin) Stiles and Betsy (Tim) Abdella; 24 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews including Jan Comstock and honorary family member, Ron DeFazio.
He is predeceased by his daughter, Elaine (late Carl) Brinkman and his siblings, Durward Balduf, Everett Balduf and Marie Comstock-Johnson.
Friends may call on Monday from 4 to 7 pm at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia where services and military honors will be held at 11 am Tuesday. He will be laid to rest in St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Attica. Memorials in his name may be made to HomeCare & Hospice, 29 Liberty Street, Suite #6, Batavia, New York 14020, the Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester or the Finger Lakes, 435 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14620 or Crossroads House, P.O. Box 403, Batavia, New York 14021.