Curtis Hale Balch, who resided in Lavaca, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2012 in Fort Smith. He was born June 24, 1933 in Barren Fork, Arkansas to the late Jakie Balch and Geneva (McSpadden) Balch. He was 78 years old.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Ann Balch.

Curtis was a retired policeman for the Fort Smith Police Department and was a member of Lavaca First Baptist Church.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 13th, at Lavaca First Baptist Church, with Rev. Tony Buchanan officiating. Burial will be at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Charleston.

He is survived by three daughters, Jackie Cunningham and husband Jim of Lavaca, Jeanne Gray and husband Buddy of Alma, and Brenda Newman and husband Ralph of Collinsville, Mississippi; one son, Don Balch and wife Helen of Lavaca; five sisters, Mary Lou Price of Winchester, Virginia, JoAnn Pelletier of Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas, Peggy Turner of West Memphis, Arkansas, Wanda Sneathern of Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas, and Linda Kay Crowe of Marion, Arkansas; three brothers, Harrell Balch of Detroit, Michigan, Travis Balch of Lavaca, and Steve Balch of Van Buren; (13) grandchildren and (12) great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be the Fort Smith Police Honor Guard.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons, Chris Giles, Will Newman, Brendan Newman, Keith Shelby, Jamie Patterson, Justin Miller, Bo Kimmons, David Nicodemus, and Ross White.

Family will visit with friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday night at the Lavaca First Baptist Church.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.