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Submitted: 4/14/20 • Approved: 4/15/20 • Last Updated: 4/18/20 • R1309456-G0-S3
US Army 106th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Division
World War II
October 9, 1923 - April 11, 2020
Purple Heart
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
Marshall, Arkansas
Cecil Warren Balentine
Cecil Warren Balentine, age 96 of Big Flat, Arkansas passed from this life on Saturday, April 11th, 2020 at White River Healthcare in Calico Rock, Arkansas. He was born in Big Flat, Arkansas on October 9th, 1923 to Frank Balentine and Ada Clark Balentine.
Warren was a hard worker all of his life. Growing up, he worked on the family farm in Big Flat. As a teenager, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. He then went to work for his uncle in the Illinois oil fields until he enlisted in the Army on June 1, 1943.
Warren was one of the few remaining WWII Veterans. He served in the 106th Army Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division and fought in the Pacific Theater in Eniwetok, Saipan and Okinawa. He was injured while in Okinawa during the Battle of Kakazu Ridge and received a Purple Heart. After he recovered from his injuries in an Army hospital in Bushnell, Utah, he returned to Big Flat and married Ernestine Wynn on July 7, 1945. He attended Arkansas State Teachers college in Conway, Arkansas, and went on to teach in Big Flat, Marshall and Fifty-Six, Arkansas. Warren was a lifelong cattle farmer, winning Farm Family of the Year in 1969. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Ernestine Wynn Balentine; sons Donald (Myra) and Terry (Robbie) Balentine; sister, Betty Balentine Treat; six grandchildren ; 15 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ada Balentine; brothers Willis (Doc), Floyd, Frank Jr.; sisters, Ruby Foster, Sylvia Tyler; and daughter Susan Balentine Pitchford.
Graveside services for Warren will be Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 at Big Flat Cemetery in Big Flat, Arkansas with Bro. Randy Searight officiating. The family invites everyone to sign the online guestbook at: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/marshall. During these trying and difficult times with the family's permission we are not posting service times on our website in order to limit public gatherings and to do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Please contact the family for exact times. We apologize for any inconvenience.
(Photo courtesy of the late Larry Monroe Havner)
Contributed on 4/14/20 by maxparnell
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Record #: 1309456