Jesmond Dene Dene Balmer Jr., Col., U.S. Army, Ret.

Jesmond Dene Balmer, Jr., Col., U.S. Army, Ret., 89, of Homosassa, FL, passed away on Thurs., Dec. 3, 2015. He was born Nov. 11, 1926 to Brigadier General Jesmond Dene, Sr. and Virginia (Sowers) Balmer. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated in 1949.

Colonel Balmer served in the Army for 26 years during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War as a Field Artillery officer and an Army Aviator. Among his many awards, the most notable are the Bronze Star Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He earned his Senior Parachutist Badge with 2 combat jumps.

Colonel Balmer served in a variety of important assignments, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Office of the Secretary of the Army, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, US Army, Pacific. Col. Balmer also served Pres. Eisenhower as a military aide at the White House. He graduated Georgetown University with a Masters Degree in International Relations.

Dene is survived by his wife of 15 years, Jeanne Davis Balmer of Homosassa; two loving daughters; Delisa Balmer and her son Benjamin of Birmingham, AL; Danielle B. Moulds, her husband Thomas, and their sons Everett and Alexander, all of St. Inigoes, MD; former wife and dear friend Doreen Balmer of Orlando, FL; sister Jane B. McClellan of Fairfax, VA and her children Harry McClellan, Jr., Col., U.S. Army, Ret., Benjamin McClellan and Jane M. Prosperi, stepdaughters Lindsay Deinzer and Lauren Davis Bayles, and stepson Mark S. Davis.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Sugarmill Woods Golf and Country Club, Homosassa, FL at a later date. Full military honors will be rendered on Wed., March 16, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. from the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, FL. www.wilderfuneral.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The 98 Fund which supports the families of fallen soldiers who are graduates of The United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1998 www.The98Fund.org/donate