Robert Balmer

Robert Clarence “R.C.” Balmer passed away February 12, 2018 after a short illness. R.C. was born October 22, 1926 to Charles LeRoy Balmer and Ruby Rae (Ritchie) Balmer , the 6th of 10 children, in Cleveland, Oklahoma. In 1935 R.C.’s family sold out their farm and left for Washington by way of Arizona and California taking two years arriving in Zillah, WA in 1937 where his father purchased a farm. R.C. graduated from Zillah High School in 1944. In 1947 he married Betty Joyce Lichtenberg. They celebrated their 70th Anniversary July 20, 2017. R.C. and Betty had 2 daughters, Teri (Steve) Saxlund and Kathleen Pitcher. R.C. worked at different jobs, but the last 31 years he worked for Internation Harvester. R.C. was preceded in death by his father and mother, sisters Katherine Ringgold and Marion Crabtree, Brothers Charles, Kenneth, Ray, and Lawrence. He is survived by his wife Betty, daughters Teri and Kathleen, sister Jean (Gary) Fendall, brothers Donald and Harold, grandchildren Meagen (Rueben) Butler, Whitney (Nick) Hehemann, Treva (Dan) Bridges, and Tim Cox. Great Grandchildren Riley, Asher and Nora Butler, Lux and Barrett Hehemann, Austin, Donald, and Sean Bridges. A Graveside service will be Friday, March 2, 2018 at 11:00 am at Zillah Cemetery. A gathering will be held after the service at the Golden Villa Mobile Home Lodge (18 W. Washington Ave., Yakima.) To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Balmer, please visit our flower store.