Edward A. Balling, age 74 of Maryville, IL born December 7, 1948 in Chicago, IL, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville.

Edward retired as a GIS Specialist/Cartographer after 44 years of service to the federal government. He was an Army Veteran, and he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council #6625 and Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. An avid aviation enthusiast,  he earned his airplane pilot's license and served as an air traffic controller until 1981. After retirement, he taught Aviation and Air Traffic Control at Saint Louis University as an adjunct professor.  He loved to golf, play cards and board games, watch Jeopardy, trivia and reading.  He coached his daughter, Erin, in basketball for four years at St. John Neumann and continued to stay involved in the school's annual free throw contest.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (nee Steffens) Balling; his parents, Edward and Rita (nee Foran) Balling; and a sister and her husband, Dorothy and Rich Viravec.

Surviving are his daughter, Erin Helzer of Longmont, CO; beloved grandson, Nathan Helzer; a brother, Jim (Mary) Balling; a sister, Marilyn (Glenn) Johnson; three brothers-in-law:  Thomas "Steff" (Linda) Steffens, Gary (Janet) Steffens, and Robert (Elise) Johnson; three sisters-in-law:  Carol (Larry) Wasil, Cyndi (Mike) Mischke, and Nancy (Michael) Roe; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be 3 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville, IL.

Funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 20, 2023 at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 200 N. Lange, Maryville, IL 62062 with Father Rob Johnson celebrant.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Edwardsville, IL.

Memorials are suggested to K of C #6625 or St. Anne's Altar Society and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to the funeral home.