Vivian Alene Balchin

Vivian Alene Dorn Balchin, 90, of Ninety Six, widow of Ewell Emmitte Balchin, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2025. Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of the late Hollie and Cora Collier Dorn. Vivian retired from Eaton and was a devoted member of South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she found great comfort and fellowship worshiping her Lord and Savior. The joy of Vivian’s life was her family. She loved nothing more than having everyone together, and her home was always a place of warmth, laughter, and love. An amazing cook, Vivian faithfully prepared Sunday lunch for her entire family every week well into her later years. Her kitchen was the heart of many cherished memories. She loved to shop, or as she liked to say, “shake rags” and there wasn’t a hair or beauty product she hadn’t tried at least once. She spent countless happy hours with her great granddaughter, Savannah Grace, testing new hairstyles and fingernail colors. Vivian had every intention of being a great gardener but more important things always seemed to come along after she planted things. She famously claimed the first tomato of the season over Marcia each year by secretly buying tomato plants already bearing fruit. Vivian also loved to paint, and no surface was safe if she had a paintbrush nearby. In her later days, she set down her paintbrush and happily spent hours coloring with her great granddaughters instead. She firmly believed an orange soda could cure nearly any ailment and that a “pepperoni pizzer with extry cheese” could solve just about any problem. If you knew Vivian, you were instantly her friend. Whether you were a sandwich maker at Subway that she convinced to sing for her, a Walmart greeter she bought a dress for, a fellow church member that she prayed for, or a stranger she met while shopping that she helped pick out the best lipstick shade for, she had a way of making everyone feel loved and valued. She didn’t want you to leave her presence empty handed, whether it be a gift, food, or a shirt she bought for herself in your size “but it just didn’t fit right so you take it”. She went out of her way to show kindness and care to others, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Dawn Balchin; a son, Denny Balchin; and siblings, Estelle Wade, Dewayne Dorn, and Clarence Dorn. Surviving are a son, Tony Balchin (Marcia); daughter-in-law, Dana Henderson; grandchildren, Amy Balchin Farmer (Brandon), David Balchin (Blakely), Denny Balchin Jr. (Krista), Brandon Balchin, and Heather Donald; and great-grandchildren, Savannah Grace Farmer, Olivia “Birdie” Farmer, Presley Balchin, Jenleigh Torres, Tanner Balchin, Tucker Balchin, Eason Balchin, Madyson Balchin, Landen Balchin, and Peyton Balchin. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Terry Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. There are not enough words to adequately express how deeply Vivian will be missed by her family and all who knew her. The world is a better place because Vivian Balchin lived.

Vivian Alene Balchin

April 10, 1935 - December 25, 2025

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