Janet Diehl Balch, 95, died at Magnolia Trace in Huntsville, AL after a long illness. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Arthur and Victoria Diehl. She grew up in Wilmington, NC, was a graduate of New Hanover High School and attended Georgetown Visitation and Hollins College. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother; Arthur; her sister, Vera Blake; and two sons.
Janet married Jackson McCaleb Balch on March 6, 1943 in Wilmington, NC and after the War, moved to Huntsville, AL. In 1965, with Jackson’s transfer to the NASA MS Test Facility (now Stennis Space Center) as its Center Director, the family moved to Pass Christian, MS. After losing her second home to hurricanes, she returned to Huntsville in 2005.
Janet was a mother of six: Jane Smith, Margaret Kelly, Arthur Balch (deceased), Michael Balch (deceased) (Elizabeth), Jackson Balch, Jr., and Victor Balch (Katrine). Janet has 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or to Holy Family Catholic Church of Pass Christian, MS.
No Huntsville services are planned. Burial will be in Live Oak Cemetery, Pass Christian, MS.
