SHAVERTOWN, Pa.—Jonathan Balester, a former president of Balester Optical Co., was found dead in his home here on May 26. His death was ruled a homicide and the Pennsylvania state police are investigating the murder, according to Balester’s sister, Heather Balester, who currently serves as president of the Wilkes-Barre, Pa. wholesale laboratory.

Balester, who was 56 years old, was born June 15, 1954 in Wyoming, Pa., to Alison Garland McLeod-Sharpe and the late Fred J. Balester, Jr. A 1972 graduate of Wyoming Seminary, he was president of ABBA Advertising Products, which he operated from his home. He worked in the optical industry for the past thirty-eight years, in Rochester, N.Y. for Main Optical and briefly for Bausch and Lomb. In addition to serving as president of his family’s business, he also served on Balester Optical’s board of directors.

Balester was an active member of the Back Mountain Harvest Assembly of God Church and served as a Chaplin and Advisory Board Member for Providing Hope Prison Ministry. He was active in local and state politics and served as a director of volunteers for the Luzerne County Republican party. Balester is survived by his mother, Alison Balester; sister, Heather Balester and her husband Robert Boerner of Wilkes-Barre; sister, Valerie Balester and her husband Spiros Vellas, of College Station, Texas; brother, Matthew Balester and his wife Michelle of Clifton Springs, N.Y.; and brother, Marc Balester and his wife, Elnora of Austin, Texas.

Funeral services will be held Thursday 10:30 a.m., June 2 at the Desiderio FH Inc. 679 Carey Avenue. Hanover Twp. Followed by internment at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Twp. Friends may call Wednesday. 4PM.To 8PM. at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Balester’s memory to the Salvation Army, 729 Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover Township 18706; St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen, 39 E. Jackson St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; Back Mountain Harvest Assembly of God Church, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.