Frederick Hayley Balch left this life to be with his Lord, Jesus, on Friday, December 1, 2023, in his home, surrounded by his family. Freddie was born on January 20, 1955 to Lemuel and Mildred Balch of Iowa Park, Texas.
A chapel memorial service for Frederick will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Dutton Funeral Home, 300 E Cash St, Iowa Park, Texas 76367.
Freddie graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1973. He also met the love of his life in high school, Donna Garvin Balch. They were high school sweethearts for two years before they married on November 9, 1973. They celebrated 50 years of marriage this November and were true soulmates.
They have two beautiful and loving children. McKenzie Hayley was born on May 3, 1978 and Frederick Scott was born on July 10, 1982.
Freddie started work for Wilson's Manufacturing right after graduation, then he went on to work for Piping Engineering. In 1974 he went to work for Cryovac/Sealed Air where he worked in Extrusion. Freddie retired in 2014 after 40 years at Cryovac. He was a very hard working man, he always worked overtime. So much so, it was like he had two full time jobs, but he always made time for his children.
He made every one of his daughter McKenzie's soccer games. He also made sure to make most practices and every game of football/baseball for his son, Scott. He even coached one year for Scott's baseball team. He enjoyed that very much. Freddie had so much love for his grandchildren and enjoyed playing pranks and telling silly made up jokes to them.
Freddie was a long time Houston Astros fan and a Dallas Cowboys fan. He would talk about the old Houston Colt .45s and the best of the Cowboys years. He enjoyed watching his last Cowboys game on Thanksgiving day with his family beside him. He loved having his best buds coming over to watch the games on his patio man cave out back. Freddie's love for cooking out would lead him to cook outside even in the craziest of weather. His favorite was BBQ ribs and making homemade hot sauce.
He is preceded in death by his parents Lemuel and Mildred Balch, aunt Hazel Hayley, sister Jo Caroline and brother-in-law Jerry Sloan. He is survived by his wife Donna, daughter McKenzie Sherrill (husband David Ray Sherrill, Jr.), grandaughters Peyton and Marley, grandson Riley, son Scott Balch and wife Katy, grandsons Cason Lemuel Balch and Kason Gamblin, grandaughters Faith Tucker and Jaycee Gamblin, sister Judy Balch, nieces Hayley Trent and husband Chris, Tami Bart and her husband Ryan, nephew Andrew Sloan and his wife Christine and much loved great nieces and nephews. Freddie thought a lot of his many co-workers and loved his family and friends dearly. He will be greatly missed. God has him in his arms but we will always carry him in our hearts.
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