James W. Balentine

James W. Balentine, 90, of Jaffrey, NH, died on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at the Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in New Brunswick, NJ on April 23, 1926, the son of Warren and Doris (Lamson) Balentine. ‘Jim’ was a 1944 graduate of Barnstable High School in Hyannis, MA and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Bates College before earning his Masters of Education from the University of Massachusetts.

Jim served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

Mr. Balentine began his 26-year-teaching career at Woodbury High School in Salem, NH. He continued his teaching career and school administration at the following schools: Wellesley (MA) Junior High School, Murdock Junior-Senior High School in Winchendon, MA, Fitchburg (MA) State College and Gardner (MA) Junior High School before his first retirement in 1976.

In addition to teaching, Jim was a 25-year co-Executive Director at the Jaffrey Gilmore Foundation and served as a Selectman and on various other boards with the Town of Jaffrey. He belonged to the First Church in Jaffrey and the Charity Lodge No. 18 F. and A.M. Masonic Lodge in Jaffrey, and in his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking, playing organ music and singing, and making Maple Syrup produced on the Chadwick Farm.

Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty Jane (Cederholm) Balentine of Jaffrey; his daughter, Jean B. Ris of Kingston, PA; his son John C. Balentine of Chestertown, MD; his 2 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild; a brother, Robert G. Balentine of Park Ridge, NJ, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

At Jim’s request, there will be no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1:00 PM in the First Church in Jaffrey, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way, in Jaffrey Center. Rev. Shayna Appel, Pastor, will be the officiant. Burial with full military honors was held in Conant Cemetery, Jaffrey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Balentine’s name to the First Church in Jaffrey, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey, NH 03452.