William Harold "Hal" Ballew

William Harold "Hal" Ballew, 81, of Midland passed away on Friday, June 1, 2007 at the Hospice of Midland Inpatient Unit. The family will receive friends at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home on Monday, June 4, 2007 from 6:00PM to 7:00PM. A memorial service celebrating Hal's life will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Midland.Hal was born on February 26, 1926 in Pueblo, Colorado. He was the second of three children born to Thomas and Lena Ballew. In 1942, at just 17 years of age he joined his brother in the US Navy. During his service as a radar technologist he spent time in Chicago, San Diego and Honolulu. Upon the conclusion of WWII, he went back to his home state and continued to proudly serve his country through the Army Corps of Engineers. During this time, he also went back to school and ended up earning a Masters in Geophysical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1951. After graduation he deferred a doctorate scholarship to Harvard Law School so he and his new bride Betty Louise Clark could focus on their careers and family. In 1953 it was Shell Oil Company that provided him an opportunity to move to Midland. He worked for over 10 years for Shell as a Petroleum Geologist until he eventually went independent. He was a long time member of The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and a devoted alumni to the Colorado School of Mines. He found his faith through St. Nicholas Episcopal church where he served as a lay reader and volunteered his talents on a variety of initiatives. His love for his two sons and the sport of baseball had him very active as a coach and manager in the Little and High Junior leagues during the 60's and 70's. His approach to the game was appreciated by both parents and players alike. He found great joy when one of his now grown players would stop him in public with a "Coach Ballew, how you doing?" If Hal couldn't be found on a baseball field, he was probably waist deep in a tranquil mountain stream participating in his other passion, that of trout fishing. Of all his loves, none surpassed his love for his wife Betty Lou who passed away just one month shy of their 50th wedding anniversary in June of 1998. Hal is survived by his two sons, William Clark Ballew of Hamilton, Texas, Scott Thomas Ballew and wife Amanda Gaston Ballew, and grandson William Evan Gaston Ballew of Durham, North Carolina. Additionally, Hal leaves an extended family of nieces, and great nieces and great nephews in Texas and Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Peggy Hankla, and brother, Thomas Ballew.The Ballew family would like to express a heart felt thanks to all of the staff of The Red Rose Christian Home. Their extraordinary care and compassion allowed Hal to live his last few years in peace and amongst friends. In addition the family would like to thank Hospice of Midland for allowing Hal to move on with dignity and in comfort. In honor of Hal's lifetime love for dogs, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Midland S.P.C.A, 2701 SCR 1206, Midland, Texas 79706.,