Carolyn Ann (Minton) Balke

Carolyn Ann Minton Balke passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 23, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She fought a year-long battle with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer while showing incredible strength, courage and faith in the Lord.

Carolyn was born on January 11, 1945, at the Bellville Hospital in Bellville, Texas. She was the only child of Gilbert and Leona Minton and she was raised on the family farm in Bleiblerville. As a child, she enjoyed spending time with her grandmother, tending to her many pets and helping with chores on the farm. She attended Welcome School while continuing on to graduate from Bellville High School in 1963. Carolyn developed an interest in sewing and baking as a member of 4-H and Future Homemakers of America. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Business from Blinn College while working at Germania Insurance in their processing department. She was a pianist at the Nelsonville Brethren Church and she enjoyed traveling to other communities while playing church league volleyball.

On July 1, 1967, Carolyn married her lifelong best friend, James Balke. They began their married life while James was serving four years in the U.S. Navy. During this time, their first daughter, Kelly Beth, was born at NAS Memphis, TN. In 1972, they established a home in Woodway, a suburb of Waco, where their second daughter, Susan Anniece, was born. In the mid-1980’s, Carolyn opened a craft consignment shop with her friend, and they sold their own handicrafts at weekend craft shows across Texas. After returning to Bleiblerville in 1991, she became active in the Bleiblerville Extension Education Club. She was elected to numerous officer positions in the Bleiblerville EE Club as well as the EE Association of Austin County. She was honored with the District 11 EE Association Texas Treasure Award in 2017 for her outstanding community service and leadership. Carolyn was the Postmaster Relief in the Bleiblerville Post Office where she enjoyed helping her neighbors for twenty-one years. She also devoted over twenty years of service to the Austin County Fair Board where she was Chairman of the Country Store, Expo Building Superintendent and Co-Chairperson of Senior Citizen Day. Her years of dedicated service were recognized in October 2025 when she was selected to be Grand Marshal of the Austin County Fair Parade. She enjoyed organizing the cake walk and visiting with old friends at the Bleiblerville VFD Fish Fry every May.

Carolyn will be remembered for her grace, welcoming smile, blue eyes that twinkled when she laughed and her endless wisdom. Many of her daughters’ friends and neighbors sought advice from “Mama Balke” and valued her listening skills and knowledge. Carolyn loved spending time with her family, tending to her plants and decorating her immaculate home for the holidays. She was famous for her beautiful lemon meringue pies, German Chocolate cakes and precise sewing skills. She dedicated her life to being a supportive wife, devoted mother and a faithful friend.

Carolyn’s life is celebrated by her husband, James, and daughter, Susan, who both reside in Bleiblerville, her cousin Randall Teufel of Nelsonville and in-laws Annette, Byron and Marian Balke of Bleiblerville. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Kelly Beth, parents, Gilbert and Leona Minton, and numerous aunts and uncles. The family would like to express their appreciation to Carolyn’s friends, caregivers and the breast oncology team at Houston Methodist Hospital for their love and support.

Family and friends will gather to honor her memory with a visitation at Schmidt Funeral Home - Bellville on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at Nelsonville Brethren Church on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. A private interment will be held at the National Cemetery, where she will rest beside her beloved daughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

National Cemetery Association, 355 Krause Road New Ulm, Texas 78950