Floyd Allen Balter

Floyd Allen Balter, 82, passed away on February 14, 2017. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 21, 1934 to Ted and Loretta (Jensen) Balter. The family moved to Texas in 1949 and settled in San Antonio. Floyd attended Northeast High School where he was president of the first graduating class of 1952. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he attained the grade of Radarman Second Class. After an honorable discharge, Floyd enrolled in the pre-engineering program at Texas Lutheran College in Seguin and later transferred to the University of Texas in Austin. Floyd hired on at Southwest Research Institute in 1959 while he continued to work on his degree in the evenings at St. Mary's University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. After 41 years, he retired from SwRI in October 2000 as a Senior Research Scientist in the Space Science and Engineering Division. Floyd was a lifelong car enthusiast and was frequently found under the hood of his vehicles. He drove Corvettes in his younger days and Cameros and Firebirds in his later years. His greatest joy was his grandsons.

Floyd is survived by his wife of 47 years Loretta Clair (Naegelin) Balter; his sons Craig and wife Samara, Ted and wife Martha, Jason and wife Becky; and grandsons Kieran, Joseph, and Ozren. Also his brother Roy, nephews Jeffery, Kirk (deceased), and niece Julie Kay along with many other beloved nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Luke's Catholic Church on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm. A short prayer service will take place the following morning, on Friday, February 24th, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home (Austin Highway) at 8:45 am followed by internment at Fort Sam National Cemetery at 9:45 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).