John Weeks Earnshaw

John Earnshaw, 86, life-time and well-known resident of Ballinger, Texas, passed away Thursday, June 5, 2014 at Ballinger Memorial Hospital in Ballinger.

John Weeks Earnshaw was born on September 26, 1927, to Reginald W. and Maureen (Weeks) Earnshaw in the old hospital on the hill in Ballinger. He went all through school in Ballinger, graduating high school in May of 1945. He joined the Marine Corps right before graduation and served for four years, two of those years in North China in the 1st Marine Division right at the end of WWII. John has told many people that the best thing that ever happened to him was when he met Helen Kennedy and talked her into marrying him on February 4, 1956 in Ballinger. He said she was the sweetest and most loving person he ever knew. They were blessed with three wonderful sons, Jack, Clay, and David. John and Helen had been married 56 years when she passed away January 5, 2013.

John was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ballinger where he was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He served on the Ballinger ISD school board for eight years, the last two as president. John was also a real estate broker and appraiser and was in the quarter horse business for over 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen; son, Jack William Earnshaw; and great-granddaughter, Kinley Brooke Earnshaw.

John is survived by his sons, Clay Earnshaw and wife, Deborah, of Ballinger, and David Earnshaw and wife, Carole, of Frisco. John (PaPa) especially enjoyed his grandchildren, Jeff Earnshaw and wife, Karla, of San Angelo, Wes Earnshaw and wife, Kayla, of Natalia, Emily Earnshaw of Frisco, and Ben Earnshaw of College Station; and great-grandchildren, Jayce, Kimbrey, and Jaren Earnshaw of San Angelo.

Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Eloise Blackerby of Fort Worth, and Omalee Kennedy of Andrews; nephew, Donald Kennedy and wife, Gayle, of Crowley; nieces, Gayla Kennedy of Andrews, and Deedra Rowley and husband, Bruce, of Katy; and cousin, Rita Rouse and husband, Roland, of Conroe.

John often said he was very rich in one way, and that was in all the wonderful friends he had whom he dearly loved.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Saturday, June 7 at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Services will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 8 at First Baptist Church in Ballinger with Ferris Akins and Jeff Earnshaw officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger.