Kenneth A. Balog (MSgt, USAF, Ret), of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, in a local hospice facility.
He was born March 2, 1932, in a southeastern suburb of Pittsburgh.
He graduated high school in 1950 and enlisted in the USAF when the Korean War broke out. He went to San Antonio, Tx., for basic training at Lackland Air Force base. He became a military policeman, married and went to Korea to serve a year in that war. Mr. Balog returned to the states and was stationed in Sedalia, Mo., with the Strategic Air Command. He went to Germany in 1955 where his surviving daughter Gail Elaine Boots was born, then returned to San Antonio and the USAF Security Service.
He attended various military and civilian schools until 1960 then went to eastern Turkey for a year. He returned to San Antonio where he held jobs as training sergeant, and became a distinguished marksman.
He served at several overseas locations on temporary tours of duty. He served a combat tour in Vietnam 1966-1967. He retired at Hqs. USAFSS August 1, 1974.
He became chief of police in Sunrise Beach, Tx., a semi-retirement community, on Lake LBJ and served there until Aug. 1, 1991, when he and his wife purchased a large motorhome and started touring the United States. They settled in Bradley County during November 1998.
His wife Bitsy Ruth died on Aug. 7, 2009.
There will be no services at this time.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com.