Thomas James Balph

Tom was born in Butler, PA to James and Margaret Balph. He had an older brother Art and a younger sister Karen. Tom grew up hunting and fishing in the woods near their home. He learned to do yard work at a young age, and often helped his dad and brother with small landscape jobs that his dad would pick up on his off time from working in the steel mill.

Tom attended Butler Area Senior High School where he excelled in math and science. He graduated in 1964 with honors.After high school, he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in a 5 year program of classes and work experiences on 3 month rotations. He worked in a steel mill and a railroad car manufacturing co. during the work part. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

After college he took a job with Motorola SPD. So in June 1969 he packed up his 1964 Plymouth and drove the 2,000 plus miles to Phoenix to start work. During his 42 years as an electrical Engineer he received his Master’s degree from AZ State University. The work he did earned him many accolades for writing technical articles for trade magazines, and he was awarded several patents for his innovative work in the young industry of microprocessors!

In his early years in Arizona Tom took advantage of every outdoor activity the state had to offer. Hiking, camping,skiing(water and snow), desert parties, picnics and floating down the Salt and Verde Rivers, also weekend trips to the Pacific coast. In Jan 1980 Tom met his future wife on a volleyball court at Grace Community Church. He and Marilyn were married on Dec.6, 1980. They were able to travel together on a few business trips to Boston, Carmel, Tel Aviv, and Munich. He of course made many other trips on his own. In fact, in 1985 Tom was in Chicago when we got the call that we could adopt a baby boy from Sheboygan, Wisconsin!! Our 2nd son was adopted from Glendale, AZ in 1989. Matthew Thomas and Jonathan Christian completed our family! Tom now had the opportunity to snuggle, wrestle, and eventually coach our boys in several youth team sports.

Meanwhile, Tom always had a woodworking or leather working project going. In recent years he’s learned wood carving and oil painting, while singing in our senior adult choir. This multi talented guy almost never met a person that he couldn’t strike up a conversation with! But when Myasthenia Gravis eventually robbed Tom of his ability to speak clearly or swallow food or water, feeding tubes and IVs became necessary for his survival, he declined rapidly. On October 21, 2024, with his wife, hospital staff and Paramedics in attendance Tom passed from his earthly life into God’s eternity!!!

Tom is survived by his wife Marilyn, sons Matthew and Jonathan, his brother Art (Jackie), sister Karen (Richard) Riethmiller and many nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.

Extended family, past coworkers, neighbors, and our church family have been amazing and supportive in this difficult time.