Martha Hlavinka Ballou

Martha Hlavinka Ballou was born in 1929 at the family home on the Bernard Prairie north of East Bernard, Texas.  Her parents were Rehor F. Hlavinka who had immigrated in 1906 from Nechvalin, Moravia and Vlasta Mynarik Hlavinka of Ellinger, Texas.  She grew up speaking Czech on the family farm with her brothers and sister and learned English when she started at the Bernard Prairie School.  After graduating from East Bernard High School in 1946, she attended Blinn Junior College.   She graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, at the age of 19.  She began her 32-year teaching career at East Bernard High School before moving to Rockport in 1952.  In 1956, she earned a Master of Education from the University of Texas.  She taught English and Spanish to generations of school children before retiring in 1987.  She also owned a rice and cotton farm on the Bernard Prairie for over 60 years.  After retiring, she moved back to East Bernard where she enjoyed many years of visiting with family, gardening, cooking, baking, crabbing, and traveling.  She enjoyed the sounds of her favorite country artists including Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff, Townes, and her favorite Guy Clark -who she taught in Rockport.

Martha is survived by her son Richard Ballou of Dallas and her daughter and son-in-law Mary and Todd Running of Jersey Village.  She is also survived by the ‘light of her life’ her four grandchildren Bernadette, Patricia, Caroline, and Clayton Running.  In addition, she is survived by her brother and sister-in-law James and Birdie Jo Hlavinka and sister-in-law Margie Hlavinka, as well as, many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Oldrich and his wife Bessie, her brother Julius and his wife Christine, her sister Beata Smaistrla and her husband Frank and her brother Henry, as well as, an infant brother.

While living in Rockport, she was an active volunteer for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she taught Catechism.  She also volunteered as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout Leader.  She was a fervent supporter of her children and grandchildren never missing a sporting event, play, recital, or concert. 

We would like to thank the Brookdale Willowbrook family for providing excellent care and companionship to Martha for the past eight years, as well as, our friends from Brookdale Hospice for their loving care and support of our family.    We would also like to thank the outreach ministry from the Prince of Peace Catholic Community for their spiritual guidance.  We are very appreciative of all our friends and coworkers who have supported us throughout this journey. 

Martha was proud of her Czech heritage and her parents from whom she learned many lessons that served her well throughout her life.  One of her lasting gifts is that she instilled these same values of hard work, education, perseverance, family, faith, and love in her children and grandchildren.  Proverb 22:6 Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.

Memorials in memory of Martha Ballou may be made to the Holy Cross Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1335 or the East Bernard EMS, P.O. Box 612, both in East Bernard, TX 77435.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, 839 Church Street, East Bernard, TX 77435.  Visitation will be prior to the mass beginning at 9:00 AM, followed by a Rosary at 9:30 AM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wharton Funeral Home.  www.whartonfuneralhome.com.