William Hartman Balz

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Andrew Balz, Jr, and Mabel Frances Childress Balz; his brother, Edward Andrew Balz, III. He is survived by his Uncle Lester "Chick" Childress (Carol); cousins; Kent Childress, Heath Springs, SC; Joyce Cannon, New Kent; John Childress, Ozeana; and Page George, Richmond.

Bill graduated from the University of Baltimore with a BA degree in English in 1976. He began his Federal Service in 1977 as a GS-4 Clerk Typist for Personnel with the Civil Service Commission in Washington, DC. In 1981 he transferred from Washington to Richmond to the Personnel Office at Ft. Lee. From there he went to Bellwood in 1983 for a promotion in the Personnel Office. He served for over 33 years at this location. Bill progressed in his career starting as a Staffing Assistant and ultimately becoming the Chief of the Staffing Division in Human Resources as a Supervisor, GS-13, servicing 1,100 employees. In 2003 he became a Supervisory Financial Resource Specialist for the Defense Logistics Agency Finance until his retirement in 2016.

Bill was an accomplished musician, playing organ and piano for several churches in the area and was most recently the organist at Pioneer Baptist Church where he was a member. Bill started playing the piano at age 6 and as an adult took classes at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and at the University of Maryland. About music Bill said, "Music is part of my heritage, has always been part of my life, and runs in my family. My grandfather, grandmother, great uncle, aunts and father all played a musical instrument. Some of them taught music, played in public and in bands. There was always someone playing an instrument at family get-togethers." Bill was a great friend to many, kind, a good neighbor, and loved Christmas.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 13, at Corinth United Methodist Church, 23 W Williamsburg Road, Sandston, VA, 23150.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Pioneer Baptist Church Buliding Fund or St. Jude Children's Hospital.