Henry Ballweg

Henry Ballweg, 92, farmer, loving husband, father and grandfather, of Mansfield, died Tuesday, December 7, 2010. Henry was the descendant of two Texas pioneer families, Patrick and Elizabeth Cully Day and Martin and Anna Giesregen Ballweg. Henry, the second child of Mabel Day and Leo Ballweg, was born in the Britton community on July 6, 1918. Soon after, the family moved to a farm in the Webb community where Henry grew up and attended school. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1933 at the age of fifteen. He forewent a college education in Austin to help his newly widowed mother and brother on the farm. On Nov. 9, 1940, Henry married Ruby Rutland of a nearby farm. They recently celebrated their seventieth anniversary on their farm. Mr. Ballweg was a staunch supporter of the historic Webb community, serving on the Webb school board. He was president of the Webb gin. He was a charter member of the Webb Volunteer Fire Department and was a lifelong member of St. Jude's Catholic Church in Mansfield. Henry loved farming, particularly growing cotton. He enjoyed games and sports, especially baseball, which he had played as a young man in the Webb community. He and Ruby loved vacationing with relatives and neighbors and having family gatherings. Mr. Ballweg was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Phil, and his sister, Mary Francis Ballweg. Survivors; Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruby; sons, Jimmie Ballweg and wife Jo and Thomas Ballweg and wife Yolanda all of Mansfield; daughters, Judy McWilliams and husband Richard of Fort Worth and Janet Hinton and husband Morris of Mansfield; grandchildren, Shauna Norvell and Ian McWilliams of Dallas, Aaron McWilliams and wife Ashley of Burleson, Ann Fontenot and husband Kevin of Kennedale, Cole Ballweg and wife Ann of Arlington, Dana Tarrant and husband Zach of Willow Park, Derek Hinton and wife Tracie of Arlington, Jared Hinton and Matthew Hinton of Mansfield; great grandchildren, Elizabeth and Carrie Fontenot, Henry and Gray Ballweg, Ava McWilliams and Ruby Tarrant; sisters, Martha Durand and husband Joe of Dexter, New Mexico and Pat Gazewood and husband John of Arlington; numerous nieces and nephews. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Henry Ballweg please visit our Sympathy Store.