Van Eldon Ballew, Sr. of Gholson, was welcomed home to heaven on Saturday, February 5, 2022.
Visitation: 6 -8 PM Friday, February 18, 2022 at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel. Click here to View the Live Stream of the Service.
Burial: Gholson Cemetery
He was born on March 14, 1933 in Gholson to Horton and Mamie Ballew. Van’s passions were loving Jesus, his family and friends. He was a graduate of Texas A&M-College Station, Baylor University, Waco and retired Pastor from Cornerstone Fellowship-Riesel, where he pastored for 20 years. Van Ballew was an extraordinary man with a true redemptive story. His life was a perfect example of how God’s love can take you from the gates of hell to standing before a loving Father saying, “welcome home my good and faithful son.” Because that is what Van Ballew was, a good and faithful son, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and pastor. He made it his mission in life to make sure everyone knew the love of God and what He could do in their life. The legacy he leaves behind is one of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Van never met a stranger and to know him was to love him, he was never more than a phone call away, unless he was playing golf.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Horton and Mamie Ballew, daughter, Julie Ballew and son, Van Ballew, Jr.; five brothers, HC Ballew, Woodrow Ballew, Walton Ballew Sr, Darrell Ballew, and Randall Ballew, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara Ballew; daughters, Cyd Collins of Riesel, Sandy and husband Darrel Phillips of Eastland; sons, David and wife Cynthia Bounds of China Spring, Colby Ballew and wife Lori of Montgomery, Joe Ballew and wife Georgia of McKinney, Darren Derrick and wife Susan, Douglas Benedict and girlfriend Lynn Teakell of Gholson; 24 grandchildren, Brandy White, Jenny Collins, Natalie Trotter, Patrick Ward, Aniesha Teague, Karli Ballew, Kendall Ballew, Neal Ballew, George Ballew, Brooksine Hawkins, Colby Ballew, Drew Derrick, Bo Benedict, Nicholas Bounds, Brittany Craig, Jennifer Steinke, Eric Steinke, Daniel Phillips, Michelle Phillips, DJ Phillips, Thomas Phillips, Lain Phillips, Deci Phillips, and Steven Cotton; 30 great grandkids, Andrew White, Zoe White, Madison Unger, Mason Unger, Dylan Turner, Wyatt Turner, Zane Turner, Ashlyn Douglas, Devan Meeker, Sienna Douglas, Bennett Ballew, Addie Jane Ballew, Joe Ballew, TJ Ballew, Austin Ballew, Parker Ballew, Eliza Hawkins, Reed Hawkins, Hallie Hawkins, Claire Hawkins, Scarlett Craig, Lane Steinke, Cameron Steinke, Jessica Phillips, Angelina Phillips, Alyha Hubbard, AJ Davis, Autumn Davis, Hailey Arnett, and Ayana Loera; and numerous beloved family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to ILS Ministries, Cornerstone Fellowship PO Box 311 Riesel, TX 76682 (memo ILS). Van loved the children’s ministry in Kenya.
Place of Service: ,
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He was a great man and will be greatly missed
I remember him although he was older. He will be missed.
Prayers for the family.
VAN WAS THE FIRST PERSON JR AND I MET WHEN WE MOVED TO GHOLSON IN 1955. WE PLAYED MANY DOMINO GAMES AROUND THE DINING TABLE IN OUR MOTHER AND DADDY’S HOUSE. MAYGOD REST HIS SOUL. TOMMY
“Mr. Ballew”, as we at La vega HS called him, was a handsome and excellent instructor while I was in the 9th grade. He had an excellent teaching style, kept us interested and had a caring demeanor to me and all his students.
He appears to have left a terrific legacy in all his large family and I am sure they all adored him.
God bless Mr. Ballew and welcome him home.
Oh sweet Van, you have always been my Pastor and Barbara. Yancy just passed Nov 2021 so I guess them two will be welcoming each other at heavens gate.
Love you
Brenda Ellis Gray
Met Van Eldon Ballew in 1976 when he was a lawyer in Dallas.
I was 24 and he was in his 40’s.
Never forgot him all these years later.
So happy to know he was a pastor.
He was a remarkable person.