James Balthrop

EULESS -- James Edgar "Jim" Balthrop, 88, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. Funeral: 3 p.m. Saturday in Lucas Hurst Chapel, 1321 Precinct Line Road. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials in his honor are requested to Christ Haven for Children. James Edgar, the son of John Edgar and Sally Theo Cleveland Balthrop, was born in Fort Worth on Feb. 19, 1920. He was a graduate of North Side High School and attended Texas Wesleyan College. His first job was with his father in the Fort Worth Stockyards. He enjoyed a long career as a grain merchandiser, serving as a director of the Fort Worth Grain Exchange and testifying before Congress for the grain industry. He retired as vice president of Bunge Corp. in 1979. Jim served as an elder of Meadowbrook Church of Christ and on the boards of Christ Haven for Children and Fort Worth Christian School. Mr. Jim was an avid golfer and fisherman, living many years on Lake Granbury. He was always generous to family, friends and church. The family would like to especially thank Kathy Jones and the staff of Jack's Place for their love and care for Mr. Jim. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Lucile Balthrop; and sisters, Elnora Wilcox and Louise Shumate. Survivors: Wife of 69 years, Betty Lucile Balthrop; daughters, Sherry Lee Organ and husband, Dennis, of Searcy, Ark., and Nita Kathleen Applegate and husband, Curtiss, of Fort Worth; sons, James Edgar Balthrop Jr. and wife, Susan, of College Station and Ricky Don Balthrop and wife, Kerry, of Bedford; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and brother, Lon Harvey Balthrop of Mesquite. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Balthrop please visit our Sympathy Store.