Published in the Athens Review November 23, 1944

John W. Ballow, well known Athens real estate man and former county official for many years, died suddenly of a heart attack Saturday night at his home in the Walnut Creek community. He had been ill only forty-five minutes.

Mr. Ballow served his native county as District Clerk for two terms, as County Clerk two terms and as County Judge for four terms, and at the time of his death was engaged in the real estate and leasing business. His home is within a mile of the old home place where he was born on October 5, 1885. He was the son of the late A. Ballow, and had resided in the Walnut Creek community most of his life.

Mr. Ballow, born in the same house in which his father was born, was a member of a pioneer Henderson county family. He was a grandson of John Ballow, for whom he was named and who was reared in that community.

After finishing high school at Walnut Creek, he attended old Bruce Academy in Athens and then attended East Texas State Teacher's College at Commerce. He taught school in the county for a number of years, and then went into the general merchandise business in Athens with a former County Judge, the late Alf Coker. Mr. Ballow later operated a general merchandise business in Malakoff for a number of years and then entered public office.

Friends said that since childhood he was kind to everyone and that he be-friended and helped as many people as any man who ever lived in the county. He often-times told his friends that he found more pleasure in aiding others than in anything else, and it was known that he sacrificed much of his personal means for that end.

"He was truly a great fellow, high spirited, and a man who always stood for what was right," said R.F. Easterwood, with whom he was reared.

He was married to Miss Zinnie Donnell of the same community, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dan Donnell, on October 2, 1910.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Miss Flora Beth Ballow of Frankston and Mrs. Phil E. Trammell of Hawkins; two sons, Dan Ballow, S. 1/c, San Francisco, California, and Sgt. John P. Ballow, somewhere in the South Pacicfic; four brothers, Grover Ballow of Crescent Heights, now employed in Houston, Bert Ballow of Crescent Heights, Oscar Ballow of Levelland and Clarence Ballow of California; two sisters, Mrs. tom Wallace of Turkey Creek and Miss Jean Ballow of Crescent Heights; four half-brothers, Pvt. George Ballow, stationed in Nebraska, Frank Ballow of Orange, Ferris Ballow of Houston and Pvt. Harris Ballow, stationed in England; four half-sisters, Mrs. Alton Laney of Athens, Mrs. Hollis Hines of Trinidad, Mrs. Charles Coleman of Lufkin and Mrs. Charles Seeber of Athens, his step-mother, Mrs. A. Ballow of Athens; one stepbrother, Sommer Kimble of Dallas, and one granddaughter, Sarah Sue Ballow. Dan Ballow was here for the services.

The services were held at the Crescent Heights Methodist Church Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, with the Rev. James Riley, Methodist pastor of Eustace, the Rev. Guy Wilson, Methodist pastor of Lufkin, and the Rev. John Duckett, pastor of the Fundamental Baptist Church of Athens, officiating.

Mr. Ballow was a Master Mason and member of the Malakoff Lodge. Members of the Lodge had charge of the burial service at the grave in the City cemetery.

Pallbearers were Louis Hounsel, R.F. Easterwood, Frazier Holland, H.C. Moseley, Bob Tanner, Jim Peay, Henry Meredith and Dave Monroe.

Honorary pallbearers were Edwin Hart, Billy Thomas, Albert Tanner, Lee Clay, Willie Wofford, Sam Holland, Homer Moore, Will Justice, C.A. Spencer, J.B. Kitchens, Ruey Adams, Ross Knott, E.M. Kinabrew and Franklin Holland.

The body rested in state in the chapel of the Carroll and Lehr Funeral Home until the hour of the service.