Frank Tate Balton, Jr, 94, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, June 27, 2021. He was born to Frank Tate, Sr. and Grace Collins Balton on January 23, 1927 and is predeceased by his brother Jake & two sisters, Sheila & Gracemary.
A life-long Memphian, Frank graduated from Christian Brothers High School, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, then attended Notre Dame and Memphis State, where he met the love of his life, Connie Callahan Balton. For 72 years, the couple shared a beautiful life and nurtured a close-knit family of five sons and one daughter. All of their children and two grandsons followed Frank into the sign business in some fashion.
The Balton family first began producing commercial signs in 1875, with six generations to follow. With Frank at the helm, the family business continued to change the landscape of Memphis by designing and building the many landmark signs we see daily, to include those at The Malco Theatres, BB King Blues Club, Hard Rock Cafe, Beale Street, Stax Academy, Gossett Motors Cars, Catherine’s, Holiday Inn, and many more.
Frank developed and maintained close relationships with his customers for multiple decades. Those clients have referred to him as a true legend, with whom they felt honored to have learned from and worked with for so long. Multiple creations earned him design awards from and board memberships on the Mid-South Sign Association and the American Sign Museum, to name a few.
But Frank’s first love was his family, to whom he was devoted. It was said, you could set your watch to the time he came home each day. There he wisely instilled an incredible work ethic and sense of devotion in all six of their children. Each of them proudly credits these traits to their success as self-employed business owners.
Frank was also a lifetime member of St Louis Church. He loved to read novels and his Motor Trend and Car & Driver magazines, dreaming of the next car he would rarely buy, and hopefully one his teenage boys would not wreck. Frank always said that although he never played football, a proud accomplishment was driving to a wedding from London, England to Edinburg, Scotland on one of England’s busiest roads, the “M”, pinging only five side view mirrors.
He leaves his beloved wife, Connie; his children, Stephen (Tracy), Jeffrey (Terry), Scott (Terry), Robin (Lisa), Camille (Jon), Christopher; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, on Wednesday, June 30 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM. The family asks that charitable memorials be sent to St Louis Church.
