Penny Balch

Penny Kristine Balch passed away on October 27. She was 51. A Celebration of Penny’s Life will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, November 2 at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home.

Penny was born August 9, 1959 in Portland, Oregon to Robert and Leona Balch. She graduated from Centennial High School where she had worked on the school paper. She went on to earn a Bachelors degree in accounting from Portland State University. Penny worked for Entercom Radio which she thoroughly enjoyed. During her employment at Entercom, she volunteered for many special events. She also worked part time for an auction house. Penny was very interested in her family genealogy and was an active member in the Troutdale Historical Society. She collected Barbies and liked to furnish doll houses and miniature display cases.

Penny is survived by her mother; brothers, Bobb, Mark, and William Balch; sister, Beth Wood; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Knight Cancer Institute or the Troutdale Historical Society.

Arrangements under the direction of Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, Gresham, OR.

As appeared in The Gresham Outlook

Penny Kristine Balch, mid-county resident and longtime treasurer and board member of the Troutdale Historical Society, died of acute leukemia at Oregon Health & Science University on Wednesday. She was 51.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W. Powell Blvd. A 4 p.m. reception will be held in the Museum Barn at the Harlow House, 726 E. Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale.

Balch was active in the historical society for more than 20 years, serving off and on as treasurer, writing occasional grants and frequently taking on special projects. Though she was no longer treasurer, society officials called her back to examine documents that led to the conviction of a staff member who embezzled funds from the organization. The judge commended her for her thorough work.

She was born Aug. 9, 1959, in Portland to Robert and Leona Balch. She graduated in 1977 from Centennial High School, where she worked on the school newspaper. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Portland State University and passed her certified public accountant test but did not pursue the credential.

She worked for Entercom Radio and volunteered there for special events. She also worked part time for an auction house and for the last two years before her illness for OnPoint Community Credit Union.

She suffered breast cancer about five years ago. In celebration of the end of her treatment, she went out to buy a new car, thinking Toyota Camry, and bought a Jaguar instead.

Her interest in her family genealogy and history took her to the Troutdale Historical Society. She also collected Barbie dolls, furnished dollhouses, and made doll dresses and miniature displays and costumes for her nieces and nephews. She collected and wore vintage hats and wrote children’s books for her niece and nephew. In 1998 she put on a flashy red dress and a fish-trimmed crown and was a princess in the Troutdale parade’s Smelt Queen and Court float.

She wanted to see completion of the Troutdale Centennial Arch and gave a contribution to guarantee her name on the structure.

Her father died in 1991, and a nephew, David Craft, died in 2006.

She is survived by her mother; brothers, Bobb Balch of St. Helens, Mark Balch of Portland and William Balch of Gresham; sister, Beth Wood of Castle Rock, Colo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests donations to the Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Foundation, 1121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 100, Portland, 97205-2021, or the Troutdale Historical Society, 104 S.E. Kibling Ave., Troutdale, 97060.

Bateman Carroll Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.