Raymond “Ray/Ramon” L. Ballestero, of Portage, passed away on Wednesday June 25, 2008. He was 71.

Raymond was born November 19, 1936 in Gary, the son of the late Manuel and Katherine (Verbos) Ballestero.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Delores “Dee” Ballestero of Portage; daughters, Darlene (Robert) Crecelius of Portage, Radine (Alan) Green of Griffith and Kathleen Ballestero of Valparaiso; a brother, Pete (Hedy) Ballestero of Chesterton; grandchildren, Kayla and Robert Crecelius, Grace Conyers, Alyse Cooley and Taylor Cooley; nieces and nephews, Mona Carnahan, Artie Enrico, and Tom Ballestero; and numerous cousins and many lifetime friends. Raymond is also preceded in death by a sister, Angeline Enrico.

Raymond retired as a Portage Police Officer. He was with the Portage Police Department from 1962-1982. He was a member of the FOP Lodge 145. He was the Burns Harbor Police chief from February 1984- December 1988 and worked for the Porter County Coroners Department. He also worked security for Portage Township High School.

A Funeral service, Rev. Douglas Mayer officiating, will be at 10 a.m. on June 30, at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 356 W. Seven Mile Rd., Valparaiso. Interment will follow at Heritage Cemetery Portage.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. June 29, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. with Deacon Brown at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel 6941 Central Ave., Portage.

Donations can be made to Portage FOP Lodge # 145 and/or to Horton VNA Hospice, 501 Marquette St. Valparaiso, IN 46383.

www.ee-fh.com

Posted 6/26/2008