Benjamin Balfour (Gittens) SFC (Ret.) Vietnam veteran, also known as “Benji,” of Hannah’s Rest, Frederiksted, died on March 25 at the Gov. Juan F. Louis Hospital. He was 78 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Yon-Suk Kim Balfour; daughter, Karen H. Balfour-Tutein, son, Louis Balfour; grandaugther, Kimiko Veronique Tutein; grandsons: Toshiro Benjamin Balfour and Benjamin K. Balfour; sister, Golda Petersen-Thomas; special niece and husband: Bernadette and Alphonso (Ray) Hansen; and nieces and nephews: Dorothy, Estelle and May McIntosh, Mercedes M. Moorehead, Daphne Rodriguez, Lorna Thomas Baltimore, Debra Thomas Andrews, Oliva Delgardo-Newton, Samuel and Dorinda Gittens, Nathaniel Thomas, Annette, Audrey, Alicia, Paul and Benjamin Henry, Gwendolyn, Emile, Leonard, Rufus, Dennis and Bertram James; brothers-in-law: Ivan Stanley McIntosh and Carl Thomas Sr.
He is also survived by sister-in-law, Ernestine Delgardo-Gittens; great niece and nephews: Yale, Gale, Dale and Cale Hansen, Jennifer Brady, Brandon Newton, Racquel and Ricky Davis, D’Laurie Short, Itayna Gulix, Horasetta Suber, D’Niele Meade, Laurel Suarez, Lorenzo Hedrington, Cristel and Cristeen Rodriguez, Yusef Coopeman, Karswell George, Maylecia Samuel, Ebonie Farrell, Yvonne St. Luce, Louise Arnold-Clark; special cousins: Gerald Doward, Eglantine Weeks, Daphney Davis and Anastacia Doward, the McIntosh family, Maranda, the Gittens family, the Carter family, the Petrus family and Alphonso L. James; as well as other relatives and friends too much to mention.
There was a viewing at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4, at the Friedensberg Moravian Church. Interment will follow at the Frederiksted Cemetery.
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.
