Mrs. Lenola Hanback Balentine, age 90, of Florence, passed away Friday, March 06, 2009. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm, Saturday at Elkins Funeral Home. The funeral service will be in the Elkins Chapel at 2 pm on Sunday with Wayne Gean officiating. Burial will follow at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.
Lenola is preceded in death by her husband, Owen Clyde Balentine; daughter, Mary Lou Crowden; brother, Obie Hanback; sisters, Minnie Bevis, and Evie Wesson; and great-granddaughter, Jennifer Hampton.
She was a member of both the Mars Hill and Florence Blvd. Churches of Christ. She had retired from Weeden Elementary School after 55 years and one month of service in the lunch room as a cook. Lenola was a very religious person and loved her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed flowers and friends, and will be sorely missed.
Mrs. Balentine is survived by her son, Scotty Balentine, of Florence; sister, Ester Williams, of Florence; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and three great-great-granddchildren.
Glennis Weeks, Wilburn Killen, Freddie Balentine, Robert Turner, John Hargett, Bobby Ford, James Bevis, and Fred Bevis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert Blackburn, Bobby Lyons, Don Harris, and Doug Pate.
Her family would like to extend a special thanks to their neighbors, family, friends, Dr. Bruce Laughlin and wife, Marge, and staff.