Raymond Lewis Balogh Jr.

Raymond Lewis Balogh, Jr, 67, passed peacefully on Monday July 24 in Wakarusa, Indiana. Raymond (Buddy) L. Balogh Jr, was born on March 13, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio to Raymond L Balogh Sr and Grace (Wozniak) Balogh.

He is survived by his siblings Ray (Sharon) Balogh, Gary (Jeanne) Balogh, Rick (Terye) Balogh, Wendy (Lloyd Bradshaw) Balogh; daughter Lindsey (Joe) Meszaros; sisters-in-law Georganna Balogh and Patty Balogh; nieces Klara Balogh, Amanda Balogh, Becca Diaz, Sara (Zach Telschow) Balogh, and Elizabeth Balogh; nephews Hondo (Lindsey) Balogh, Ben Balogh, Andrew Balogh, Robby (Hailey) Balogh, Mike (Reiko) Balogh; Grand-niece Jade Balogh; Grand-nephews Andre Diaz, Sebastian Balogh; Patrick and Westley Balogh; Grandsons William, Andrew and Harrison Meszaros. His close friend, Diane Miklosh.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Grace, his stepmother Joyce Balogh, his brother Frank Balogh, niece, Sonia Balogh, and Lindsey’s mother, Sue Beadle.

He went to Suburban Bethlehem Elementary, graduated from Northrop High School (1973) in Fort Wayne and went to college at IUFW. He attended Valparaiso University Law School 1977.

He worked as a law clerk for Judge Donald Jones in Elkhart County.  He practiced law for more than 20 years. He served as head of Emergency Management under Mayor Dave Miller.  

Writing was his true passion.  He wrote for the Elkhart Truth starting in 2017 and transitioned to The Papers in Syracuse, Indiana where he worked for the last nine and a half years.  He was the author of the book Biblical Reflections as well as coauthoring and editing several more books with colleagues, friends and his brother Ray.

He was a forever fan of Cleveland sports.  He loved baseball and played vintage baseball for the Elkhart County Railroaders.  He played fast-pitch softball for many years with his father on the team Ray’s Northcrest Marathon.  He was also integral in bringing the minor league team, The Miracle, to Elkhart County.

Bud felt called to serve in Mississippi after hurricane Katrina.  There he spent time organizing a clean-up and restoration of a women’s college there.  He always remembered this time and his service there fondly.

He was an active member at Christian Center Church, in South Bend, leading adult bible studies.

He was known for his quick wit, wordsmithing, caring nature, and strong faith.

A visitation for Bud will be held from 4PM – 7PM at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home in Elkhart on Thursday, July 27, 2023. A funeral service for Bud will be held the following day, Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11AM with a visitation an hour prior to the service at Faith Lutheran Church in Goshen.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Rose Garden Recovery Community in Syracuse, Indiana, where he served as Board President.

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