Leroy C. Baleme

“Lee” - LCDR Leroy C. Baleme, USN, Ret. It is with a very heavy heart that my brother Mark and I inform you that after 90 wonderful and fulfilling years of life, our father, "Lee" or LCDR Leroy C. Baleme, USN, Ret., passed away peacefully and comfortably on August 5th 2016 in Tacoma Washington. Born in Merced in 1926, Dad lived a fulfilling and productive life that touched the lives of many, not only growing up around an extensive Baleme family and the farms around Fresno County, he served 24 years honorably in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1967, with active overseas service during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam as both a Sailor and a nuclear weapons Naval Officer. After retiring from Naval service, Dad owned his own air conditioning and heating division that served the greater San Diego counties. He retired following a successful career for National Steel and Shipbuilding Co in San Diego as a Quality Assurance/Quality Control inspector in the early 1980's. Dad enjoyed his comfortable retirement years in Depoe Bay Oregon with our step-mother Shirley. Dad loved Classical music, the Opera, Theatre, the Ballet, and both leisure sailing and sail racing. Dad is survived by his brother Duane (Jan) Baleme and sister Beverly Carey, both of Fresno California; son SGM Lee (Wendi) Baleme USA, Ret. of Tacoma Washington; son Mark (Tina) of Portland Oregon; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. In light of Dad's passion for Classical music and the Arts, charitable donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the RHS Blue Notes Booster Club, a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit where 100% of the donation goes to support 75 choir students attending minimally or unfunded choir and arts events regionally and nationally. Please contact Banner Bank at (253) 445-6626, for charitable donations to the “RHS Blue Notes Booster Club FBO Leroy Baleme”. Cards of condolences may be sent to Lee & Mark Baleme, to the home in Puyallup, Washington.