Thomas Elton Ballinger

A Celebration of Life for Thomas Elton Ballinger, 78, who passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026 will be held on. Sunday, March 8, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Morgan Mill Community Center, 406 CR 156, Bluff Dale, Tx.

Note: this is in Morgan Mill east of the intersection of FM 1188 and State Hwy 281 for those traveling from outside the area.

Tom was born in Gainesville, Texas, on March 31, 1947, to Hardy Elton and Lois (Henley) Ballinger. He graduated from Gainesville High School in the Class of 1965 and attended Cooke County Junior College(currently known as North Central Texas College) in Gainesville before attending Elkins Electronics Institute in Dallas. Tom obtained his FCC First Class General Radio Telephone License in 1968 and his career in telecommunications industry began. He was a Radio Technician, Service Shop Manager, Antenna Site Manager, Salesman for Paging Products and Public Safety Radio Systems, and a Project Manager for Motorola and their dealer network for over 45 years. His interest in telecommunications began in college with CB Radios and progressed into Amateur (HAM) Radios soon after. He was a member of the Carrollton Amateur Radio Club and the Motorola DFW Area Amateur Radio Club for many years. He also was a proud member of the Radio Club of America. WB5IKJ, Tom's Amateur Radio Call Sign, has gone silent.

Tom married his high school sweetheart, Pat Albrecht, on April 12, 1969, in Gainesville, Texas. They lived in Farmers Branch and Carrollton for 45 years before retiring to Morgan Mill, Texas to be near their family. While in Carrollton Tom loved coaching Soccer and Baseball with some special friends: Jim Brumfield, Ken Daughtry, Mike Dobbs, Tommy Landers, and Chick Whistler and their side kick Ron Velleff. Tom loved hunting with the Wilhoit and Perry Families in Brady and at his grandfather's farm in Marysville. He led many great camping, fishing, and hunting trips and vacations to Galveston, Colorado, and Tennessee with the grandchildren and their parents! He loved John Wayne and John Deere Tractors, James Bond Movies and TRAINS! Most of all he loved supporting his son and grandchildren and niece and nephew in all of their endeavors: Sports, College, Farming/Ranching, and lots of Livestock Shows: Cattle, Horses, Goats, Sheep, and Rabbits! He was pretty good Livestock Show Roadie! As a Dad, Uncle Tom, and Daddy Tom he enjoyed every minute with family.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Ballinger of Morgan Mill, Texas, his son, Tony Ballinger and wife, Allison, of Morgan Mill, Texas, Grandchildren: Lane Ballinger of New York City, New York, Carson Ballinger and fiancé, Addison Stout, of Morgan Mill, Texas, and Henley Ballinger of Stillwater, Oklahoma; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Chris and Mary Kaden; brother-in- law, Mike Albrecht; niece, Allison Roe and husband Blake; nephew, Nate Kaden; and favorite cousins, Glenda and Harold Williams, Beverly Willford, and Kathy Stephenson of Kountze, Tx. He was preceded in death by his Parents: Hardy Ballinger and Lois Ballinger Shahan; Step-Father Jerry Shahan; and Grandparents: Elton and Elsie Ballinger and Tom and Eva Henley.

Special Thanks to: Wings Over Texas Hospice: Kate Powe, Cheyanne Koscelnik, Adriana Rodriquez, Angela Daley, Shannon Elrod, and Glenn Murray, and to Alpha Omega Hospice: Allen Christopherson and Amy Tunnell and Good Tree Assisted Living Caregivers: Chrissy, Cierra, Jen, Mikalia, Alison, Krystal, Naveah, Maria, Octavia, Katherine, Lisa, JoAnn, Jodi, Kaitlyn, Heather, and many others who have loved and cared for him these past few years.

Memorials may be made to: Erath County Livestock Association, PO Box 568, Stephenville, TX 76401Red Angus Stakeholders Junior Fund, 18335 E 103 rd. Ave, Suite 202, Commerce City, CO 80022

Alzheimer's Foundation of America: alzfdn.org