Fred Joseph Balester (Balestrieri)

Fred was born Alfonso Balestrieri. but by age 8 had changed his name to Fred. He worked in the optical business as a delivery boy in Scranton and joined the Army in 1917 during WWI. He was promoted to corporal, but never saw action. He married Ruth Watrous and moved to Wilkes-Barre, PA to set up an optical lab for Dr. Archer, an optometrist, and he did "benchwork" in the lab. During the Depression he started Balester Optical, which would later become Balester and Sons and which is still in operation in Wilkes-Barre as Balester Optical.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 2 2022, 4:43:30 UTC