Person Page 4,846

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Samuel W. Balzanna Sr." Pop" died in his home, surrounded by family , on November 22nd, 2017 in Talihina, Oklahoma at the age of 79.

Samuel W. Balzanna Sr. was born on December 22nd, 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland to Samuel Balzanna and Ida Balzanna. He married Beverly Hill, his high school sweetheart in 1959. During a life of many accomplishments he served his country in the Army National Guard during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was privileged to work on both the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 projects while working for the Bendix Corporation. Sam and his wife Bev spent 35 years as an independent agent with Nationwide Insurance Company. Sam spent his last 17 years of retirement traveling the country with his wife in their motorhome. Sam and Bev Balzanna took up permanent residence in Talihina, Oklahoma in the year 2008.

Pop is survived by his wife; Beverly Balzanna, his sister; Sandra Shoop of Littlestown, Pennsylvania, his son; Samuel W. Balzanna Jr. and daughter-in-law Tami Balzanna of Talihina, Oklahoma, his daughter; Michele Botley and son-in-law David Botley of Lincolnville, Maine, his son; Scott Balzanna and daughter-in-law Wendy Balzanna of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, his grandchildren; Samuel W. Balzanna III, Candace M. Sanner, Sean R. Balzanna, Jacob B. Balzanna, Taryn C. Balzanna, Myriah Sochurek, Victor Botley and Lisa Umstead and his great-grandchildren; Kaylee Balzanna, Bella, Dorado, Chloe and Aubrie Sanner, Lillian and Eli Balzanna, Agnus Sochurek, Willow Botley and Mackenzie Umstead.

He is preceded in death by his parents Samuel Balzanna and Ida Bent-Balzanna of Pennsylvania and his brother Ralph Balzanna of Pennsylvania.

The celebration of his life is scheduled for Friday, November 24, 2017 at 12 noon at First Baptist Church of Talihina where Pastor Mark Cook will officiate the ceremony. In Lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to be made to your favorite Veteran's organization in his honor.

Services under the direction of the Burkhart Funeral Home of Talihina, Oklahoma.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Beverly A. Balzanna "Grandma/Nana" went to join Jesus and her husband, surrounded by family on January 20, 2020, in Talihina, Oklahoma at the age of 79.

Beverly A. Balzanna was born on December 22, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland to Howard Hill and Mary Hill. She married Samuel Balzanna, her high school sweetheart in 1959.

Bev and her husband Sam spent 35 years as Insurance Agents under Nation-wide Insurance Company. They spent their retirement traveling the country together in their motor home. Sam and Bev Balzanna took up permanent residence in Talihina, Oklahoma in 2008.

Bev is survived by her son, Samuel W. Balzanna Jr. and daughter-in-law, Tami Balzanna of Talihina, Oklahoma; her son, Scott Balzanna and daughter-in-law, Wendy Balzanna of Ringold, Pennsylvania; her daughter, Michele Botley and son-in-law, David Botley of Lincolnville, Maine; her grandchildren, Samuel W. Balzanna III, Candace M. Scanner, Sean R. Balzanna, Jacob A. Balzanna, Taryn C. Balzanna, Lisa Umstead. Myriah Sochurek, Victor Botley and her great-grandchildren, Kaylee Balzanna. Samuel Balzanna V, Bella, Dorado, Chloe and Aubrie Scanner, Lillian and Eli Balzanna, Mackenzie Umstead, Agnus Sochurek, Willow, Hazel, and Silas Botley.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Howard Hill and Mary Rapp-Hill of Maryland; brother, William Hill of Maryland; brother, Ronald Hill of Maryland; sister, Shirley Hill of Maryland; sister, Eiva Hill of Maryland; sister, Mildred Hill of Maryland and sister, Jeannette Hill of Maryland.

Graveside Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at the New Talihina City Cemetery with Bro. Sam Balzanna officiating. Services are under the direction of McCarn Funeral Service of Talihina, Oklahoma.

Published in the Talihina American, Thursday, January 30, 2020.

from the book Ancestral Sketches by LeRoy Reeves and the Family of Edward Reeves and Jane Melvin, by Willie Reeves Hardin Bivins (igranddaughter of Edmund Pendleton Gaines):

"Edmund Pendleton Gains, my mother's father, was the nephew of General Edmund Pendleton Gains, for whom he was named. His father was a wealthy man, at one time owning among other things, an inn and one hundred slaves. But my great-grandfather lost his fortune, mostly, I understood, from going security for his friends.

Grandfather took an interest in one of the black boys on his father's place and taught him to read and write. After the slaves were freed this Negro went North and did well.

Grandfather was a man of Deep religion and of a mild temperament. I have heard my mother say that his thoughts were always of what he could do to help the women folks of his family and make them happy. He was a school teacher and wrote a beautiful hand.

He married Emily Esther Easley, and they had two children, a baby boy who died at birth, and my mother. He was not a large man, and through him I inherited my own short stature. He was also a very modest man.

He spent his last years in his daughter's home, but died before I was born. He read aloud to my brother a great deal, especially from the Youth's Companion.

He brought with him to his last home, a gray mare named Mittie. It was on her I learned to ride, for she was very gentle. A short loper, having no other gait.

When he was a young man he was chopping wood and a piece flew up and hit him near the eye. In later life he developed a cancer where this had injured him. In those days there was little to be done for even skin cancer and two or three years later he died. Though he suffered greatly, he would never take anything to dull the pain, even at the last, for he said he wanted to meet his Maker with a clear mind.

He was buried in the Reeves Cemetery, and in 1929 when my husband and I went back to Tennessee on business, we had a monument placed at his and his wife's graves.

He and Grandmother made their home down on what was called Reedy Creek, near Kingsport. When my mother was a baby he was putting on her shoes for her and bent a toe and broke it. He felt terrible about it, for he was devoted to her. I have a small figurine that he brought her when she was a child, and a broken pitcher from a set of doll china he gave her.

I wish I knew more about him to tell, for I know it was all good. But there is very little else I know."

Obituary --Johnson City Press (TN); Saturday, June 27, 1987:

WILLIAM E. SELL

William E. “Bill” Sell, 75, 609 Sunset Drive, died Thursday, June 25, 1987, in North Side Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was a lifelong resident of Washington County and a son of the late John A. and Elizabeth Akard Sell.

Mr. Sell was a member of Snow Memorial Baptist Church.

He was a retired farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Elsie Reeves Sell; two sons, William G. and John R. Sell, both of Kingsport; one daughter, Mrs. Patty Bradbury, McMinnville; one brother, Akard Sell, Johnson City; two sisters, Mrs. Rebecca Cox, Pompano Beach, Fla., and Mrs. Mary Emma Hale, Johnson City; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Woodall (928-2101)

FUNERAL NOTICE - Johnson City Press (TN); Saturday, June 27, 1987:

William E. “Bill” Sell

Funeral services for William E. “Bill” Sell, 75, 609 Sunset Drive, who died Thursday, June 25, 1987, will be held 8 p.m. Saturday in the Woodall Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Albert Bentley and the Rev. B.M. Canup officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Monte Vista Burial Park.

Pallbearers, who are requested to meet in the cemetery at 2 p.m. Sunday will be Stanley __nd, Stanley Denny, George Boy, Bill Smith, Charles Gillespie and George Holley. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Saturday. Woodall is in charge.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

William G. "Bill Sell, 64, 857 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport, Tennessee, died Wednesday, October 12, 2005, in the United Regional Nursing Home in Manchester, Tennessee.

He was a son of the late William Edward and Elsie Reeves Sell. Mr. Sell was a native of Johnson City and had lived in Kingsport for the past thirty-five years. He was a member of the Snow Memorial Baptist Church in Johnson City.

Mr. Sell was the owner/operator the Bill Sell Mobile Homes in Kingsport. He was a Army veteran, serving as a 1st Lt. in the Vietnam War as a Artillery Forward Observer with the infantry. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and the Army Air Medal.

Mr. Sell is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John R. Sell.

Survivors include a sister and her husband, Patty and Jerry Bradberry, of McMinnville, Tennessee. Two nieces and several cousins also survive.

The funeral service for William G. "Bill Sell will be conducted at 8 PM Saturday, October 15, 2005, in the Morris-Baker South Chapel. The family will receive friends in the funeral chapel from 6 to 8 PM Saturday prior to the service. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The graveside service will be conducted at 1 PM Sunday in the Monte Vista Memorial Park. Everyone will meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be sent to Gideon International-North Camp, P.O. Box 3695, Johnson City, TN 37602-3695; or your local Gideon organization for placement of Memorial Bibles.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Kingsport Times-News; Kingsport, Tennessee; Friday, 16 JUL1982; page 25 (Newspapers.com):

Poisonous Prey

Bill Sell holds up 37-inch copperhead he killed on his property at Bill Sell Mobile Homes on Stone Drive yesterday. Sell found the snake under a piece of metal on his lot and shot it with a 38-caliber hand gun.

Note: The above article includes a photo of Bill holding the dead snake.

Obituary -- Johnson City Press, Johnson City, Tennessee; Saturday, 30 JUN 1990:

JOHN R. SELL

KINGSPORT – John Reeves Sell, 44, 600 Colonial Heights Rd., died Friday, June 29, 1990, in Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center of an apparent heart attack.

Mr. Sell was a native of Johnson City, and a son of Mrs. Elsie Reeves Sell, Johnson City, and the late William E. Sell. He had lived in Kingsport for more than 20 years.

Mr. Sell was a 1963 graduate of Science Hill High School.

He had been employed for 24 years in the Printing services Department of Tennessee Eastman Co.

Mr. Sell had served in the Army Reserves.

He was a Baptist.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Mrs. Earlene Francisco Sell; two daughters, Tonya Lee Sell, Church Hill, and Sherry Elayne Sell of the home; one sister, Mrs. Patricia Bradberry, McMinnville; and one brother, William Gaines Sell, Kingsport.

Hamlett-Dobson (378-1314)

FUNERAL NOTICE - Johnson City Press, Johnson City, Tennessee; Saturday, 30 JUN 1990:

HAMLETT-DOBSON FUNERAL HOME

Kingsport

John Reeves Sell

Funeral services for John Reeves Sell, 44, 600 Colonial Heights Rd., Kingsport, who died Friday, June 29, 1990 will be conducted at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home Downtown Chapel, with the Rev. Ronald W. Hicks officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 2, 1990, at the Monte Vista Burial Park, Johnson City, with the Rev. Albert Bentley officiating.

Those who wish, may make memorial gifts to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 985, Kingsport, TN 37662.

Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home Downtown Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

per Willie Reeves Hardin Bivins (via Tracy Devault):

"John died several days after what had been expected to be rather simple laser surgery. He had complications, followed by cardiac arrest. He lived 16 days in a coma. He had worked for 24 years for Tennessee Eastman Company in printing services and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was buried in Monte Vista Burial Park in Johnson City."