Gwen was born on April 26, 1947 in Napoleon, OH, The daughter of Paul and Ruth Phipps. She was the oldest of 4 children (sister Cathy, brothers Erny and Jeffrey).
She developed Scoliosis as a child and was in a body cast for 2 years as a teenager. During this time is when she learned to play the drums. She gave drum lessons throughout her life. She graduated from Archbold High in 1965. She also led the Archbold, OH Blue Streakettes drum Corp to a state championship. She married Daniel Balser on May 18th 1970. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2020. They raised 4 children – Daniel Balser Jr, Mark Balser, Tammy (Balser) Cuzzocrea, and Jon Balser.
She had an extensive education, attending Criswell Center for Biblical Studies, Vision Bible College, Northwest College and completing her PHD at Ottawa University in 2006. Gwen and Dan started and ran a Christian School at their Church in Wittmann, Arizona. They also started a daycare in Bowling Green, OH. She loved kids!
Gwen was a teacher her whole life until health issues forced her to retire in 2008. She was devoted to her family and always said that she had the best kids in the world (this part is true). She loved to read and Dan would always tease her about how many books she had. She was very active in Church her whole adult life. The wife of a Pastor, she taught Sunday School, helped in Children’s Church and helped disciple many individuals and couples in Christ. She loved the Lord with all her heart and did everything she could to advance the cause of Christ. She loved going to Church and seeing her Church family. This was very important to her.
She is survived by her husband, Daniel Balser, her Brothers, Jeffrey Phipps of Bolivar TN, Erny Phipps of Peoria AZ, and her sister Cathy (Phipps) Hachtel of LaGrange TN, her 4 children (Daniel Jr (Kim), Mark (Michelle), Tammy and Jon), 6 grandchildren ( Misty (Balser) Wood, Andrew Balser, Rebekah (Balser) Brubaker, Marina Cuzzocrea, Ian Balser, and Vincente Cuzzocrea) and 4 great-grandchildren (Connor Wood, Travis Wood, Bryce Balser, and Charlotte Balser).
Gwen was preceded in death by Paul Phipps (father) in 1983, Ruth Phipps (mother) in 2008, and Grant Cuzzocrea (Tammy’s husband) in 2011.
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