Carol Balch

Carol Albertson Balch (1944-2021) passed peacefully into heaven on June 25,2021. She was a devoted wife for 55 years to Dr. Charles Balch and a dedicated mother to Glen, Alan, Laura and Mark and mother-in-law to Alison, Valerie and Thomas. She was beloved by her six grandchildren: Anna and Lauren Balch, Andrew and Matthew Balch, Colin and Cameron Sloan. She also is survived by her siblings Sandy, Bill and Loraine along with their spouses Vida and Tom.

Carol was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio where she graduated from DeVilbiss High School and the University of Toledo. After three years of medical school spanning Columbia and Georgetown she chose not to complete a medical degree. Instead, Carol dedicated her tremendous talents and nurturing temperament to being a mother to not only her own children but any young person (and stray cat or dog) who came into her life. She was a mother to all.

In the wake of her passing, her friends described her as an inspiration for how to treat others by opening your home and heart. She was happiest when her “nest” was overrun with her children’s friends and even friends of those friends. Her love was given selflessly and in abundance to so many even in the face of her incredible struggles with debilitating health issues that spanned decades including degenerative arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Carol taught us to lean into and love one another. Her love for the Lord created her kind, compassionate spirit. Carol’s faith showed us that there is always more you can give, to put the needs of others ahead of your own and that everyone deserves to be treated with grace and generosity. Her spiritual devotion also was reflected in her volunteer work through which she served on the board of directors for Bay Area Young Life from 1986 to 1996 and helped to found and grow three churches (Covenant Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL; Bay Area Presbyterian Church in Clear Lake, TX; Bay Area Church in Annapolis, MD).

She preceded in death by her parents Claire and William Albertson, her brother Roger, her brother-in-law Sam and her precious niece Lissa Albertson next to whom she chose to be buried in Orlando. The family would like to thank Auberge of Sugarland for their compassionate care of Carol, especially during the pandemic.

A celebration of life will be held in Houston on July 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm CDT at St Luke’s United Methodist.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations either to the Lissa Albertson Scholarship Fund, Carol's precious niece next to whom she will be buried, by visiting

https://impact.patientadvocate.org/campaign/in-memory-of-carol-balch/c346963

or Bay Area Young Life where Carol served on the board of directors for a decade, by visitng

https://giving.younglife.org/s/?GiftType=Area&MissionUnitId=a2s410000002wfoAAA&ClassCodeId=a2j41000000Nj93AAC&MissionUnitName=Houston+Bay&ClassCodeName=Operating&Name=houstonbayarea