Beverly Ann (Hauser) Balyint

Beverly Ann Balyint, 70, of West Salem, Ohio died peacefully Sunday, January 9 in her home. She was born July 12, 1951 in Akron, Ohio the daughter of James and Patricia Hauser.

Bev played many meaningful roles in her life, including working for the telephone company, starting and leading a preschool in West Salem, serving as president of Black River Schools PTO, managing greyhound bus tickets, and making sure the Balyint Homestead was always stocked with treats for the animals and ice cream sandwiches for the grandkids.

Bev is survived by her three children, Jennifer (Michael) Lawson, David Balyint and Kati (Michael) Savage. She’s survived by her sister Patricia (Max) Romine and brothers Jim (Kim) Hauser and John Hauser. Bev has seven extremely cute and well mannered grandchildren: Aidan, Chase, Noah, Dylan, Kaylee, Brody and Wyatt. We welcomed baby Wyatt just a few weeks ago, and Bev helped Kati with some homemade meals, doted on him, and then asked who’s having her next grand baby.

Bev was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Paul Balyint, her mother and father, Patricia and James Hauser, and her grandson, Graham Balyint Lawson.

Bev was an avid reader, storyteller, and lover of animals and the outdoors. You would often find her outside in her flower garden, feeding the birds, or working on some new project around the house. She always had a book within reach and one on the nightstand. Her recent two book recommendations were The Sweetness of Water and The Last Flight.

Bev was tough. She battled and beat cancer, living gracefully with the battle scars it left.

Bev was personable and kind. She never met a stranger, telling stories about her farm, kids, and grandkids to anyone who would listen.

Bev was whip smart and funny, she kept everyone on their toes! She loved to do puzzles, test mind game software before it launched publicly, and was active in her grandkid’s lives and school.

Bev would say she never officially retired, who has the time to retire?! She loved her farm and homestead. She had a talent for turning any kind of two and four legged animal into a pet. New animals would just show up, all of us instructed not to tell our father. She loved telling stories about her pet squirrel who would bite our father’s finger. She often hosted “farm day” field trips for the preschool kids and had them all out to the house for pony rides, to see the llamas, swans, and all the resident pets.

Bev requested not to have a funeral service, and the family would find comfort if you posted a photo or memory on the funeral home’s website. We will have a celebration of life for both her and Paul later this summer at their home. There are enough flowers planted outside around her homestead to start a botanical garden, so in lieu of flowers she would appreciate a donation to a charity she frequently supported: The Humane Society, Wounded Warrior Project, Make A Wish Foundation or your local Children’s Hospital. For those who knew her well, Bev’s compassion, energy, and fighting spirit will never be replicated or forgotten, and she will be greatly missed.

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