Lowell N. Ballew, 83, of Campbell passed away September 17, 2013 at Hunt Regional Medical Center. Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Commerce with Rev. Robert Lam officiating. Interment will follow at Brigham Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Born November 21, 1929 in Oak Grove, Texas, Lowell was the son of James “J. A.” and Fannie (Richardson) Ballew. On January 22, 1970 in Athens, he married Paula Pearson.
During the Korean War, Lowell served in the United States Air Force. He graduated from DeKalb High School, received a B.S. in Math at East Texas State University, graduated from Texas Tech with a M.A. in Physics and Math, and did post graduate studies at Texas A & M – College Station in Computer Science. Lowell was on the cutting edge of the development of computer science as an academic program. And, he established the first computer-assisted instruction lab this side of the Mississippi. He was a professor at Texas A & M – Commerce where he retired as head of the computer science department. Lowell was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Commerce where he served as an elder and deacon. He was former president of the Northeast Texas International Wine and Food Society and enjoyed participating in those activities.
Lowell was a man who never met a project he couldn’t conquer. He loved buying and renovating houses. He loved to travel the world with Paula. His love of the game of golf was enhanced by his weekly games with his Sand Hills golf buddies. Lowell loved his family and his many friends who became extended family. Above all else, Lowell loved Paula.
The family would like to thank Brian Weber, PA; Nickie Dawson, RN; and Christy Godwin, RN for the care they gave Lowell and also the ICU staff at Hunt Regional Medical Center for their kind, compassionate care.
His survivors include his wife, Paula of Commerce; sons Bill Ballew and wife, Cindy of Campbell and James Ballew and wife, Natalie of Albuquerque, New Mexico; daughter Michelle Walker of Allen; brothers Donald Ballew and wife, Linda of Haltom City and Larry Ballew of Ft. Worth; sister-in-law Pam Thompson and husband, Roger and children Brian and Hannah Thompson; grandchildren Rachel and Emily Ballew, Helena Ballew, and Drew, Mattie and Ben Walker; and great-grandson Will.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother A. M. Ballew; sister Ruth Bishop; and son-in-law Tom Walker.
Pallbearers will be Ben Walker, Brian Thompson, Ken Miller, Marc Wensel, Michael Garrett, and Paul Harris. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Duncan, John Ballotti, Jim Stahl, Fred Blohm, Charlie Smith, Bill Heitholt, Jim Calvert, Dick Fulkerson, and Jim Reynolds.
The family request memorials be made to Northeast Texas International Wine and Food Society benefiting the Regents Scholar program to assist in funding International studies at Texas A & M - Commerce or to First Presbyterian Church, 1216 Monroe St., Commerce, TX 75428.