George Ballis

GEORGE FRANCIS BALLIS

On Christmas Day, 2013, George F. Ballis passed on, leaving behind a legacy of love for his family and fellow man.

Georges father, Bill Ballis, a Greek immigrant, came to America around 1900 and became a successful entrepreneur. He married Mary Foltin, an Austrian immigrant in 1919 in Galveston, Texas. Together they owned and operated the Olympus Cafe on Church and 21st Street. Mary and Bill returned to Greece in 1925 to open a hotelrestaurant in Andritsena, a small village near Olympia, where George was born in 1928, the fifth of six children.

During the worldwide Depression the family planned to return to America, with Mary and the four girls leaving first. Bill and the boys were to follow, but due to a series of events, they were unable to leave as planned and moved to Athens a short time later. In 1941, as Greece fell under Nazi rule, Bill passed on, leaving George and his brother Tom to fend for themselves, facing constant starvation. Georges sweet nature and humble requests to work for food and shelter saw him through the war years.

In 1946, at 18 years of age, George arrived in Galveston on a Liberty Ship, reuniting with his family, where he lived for the next ten years. Not speaking a word of English, George attended Kirwin High School, graduating Salutatorian in 1949. He also later attended the University of Houston. George fully embraced his Greek heritage and always valued his freedoms as an American citizen.

After high school, George worked for a short time at City National Bank in Galveston, which served as a prelude to his future credit union career. George spent the next two years working for the Texas National Guard as well as being enlisted with them for six years, reaching the rank of Sergeant.

In 1955, George married Olga Tefas and had three children, Thea, Bill and George. Together they had a wonderful life. They enjoyed spending time with their children going to the beach, fishing, waterskiing, little league ball games, vacationing in various locals, especially Greece, ballroom and Greek dancing, and celebrating life with a large group of friends at their monthly parties. George loved bringing joy to others and one way he expressed that was cooking for family and friends. Many Saturdays saw George listening to his favorite Greek music while barbequing with his Secret Sauce or cooking the fish he caught.

From 1952 to 1962, George was employed at the Amoco Refinery and Chemical plants, during which time he was elected to serve on the Board of the Amoco Federal Credit Union as its Treasurer. In 1962, he was hired as the Assistant Manager of the credit union and became its General ManagerCEO in 1973 and remained its CEO for the next 25 years. Under his leadership and enthusiastic promotional efforts fueled by his altruistic belief that every American should have access to a credit union, the credit unions membership and assets saw expansive growth, increasing from 4,000 to 40,000 members and from 8 million to 260 million in assets.

George was recognized by the National Credit Union Association as instrumental in the development of the AFCU. He dedicated 42 years of his life to the credit union and will always be remembered by thousands of credit union members and employees for his commitment to excellence, common sense, principled judgment, his heartfelt dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of the credit union, its members, management, and staff.

He was the organizer and president of the National Association of Amoco Credit Unions, past president of the Galveston County Chapter of Credit Unions, member of the Credit Union Executives Society, alternate director of the Texas Credit Union League, a lifelong Mason, a member of the Texas City Evening Lions Club, Rotary Club, and a member of and served on the Board of the Greek Orthodox Church in Galveston.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary Ballis son, George T. Ballis sisters, Anastasia Ballis, Athena Ballis, Amelia Ann Graham and brother, Tom Ballis.

He is survived by his wife, Olga children, Thea Ballis Choate and husband Tommy R. Choate Jr., and Bill G. Ballis grandson, Vaso G. Ballis and sister, Christine Groda.

Visitation will be held at EmkenLinton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway FM 1764, Texas City on Monday, December 30, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p. m., with a Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 1824 Ball St, Galveston, TX 77550, with Father Stelios N. Sitaras, Father David Eckley, and Father Serjan Veselinovich officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Frwy at Hughes Rd. in Dickinson.

Donations for memorials may be made to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 655, Galveston, TX 77553 or to the charity of your choice.

Thanks for your infinite love, your zest for life and being an example of goodness. We love you up to the sky and beyond. Well always be together.

Visitation

EmkenLinton Funeral Home
5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway
Texas City, TX  77592
Monday, December 30, 2013
4:008:00 p.m.

Service

Service

Assumption of Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
1824 Ball St.
Galveston, TX  77550
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Mt Olivet
7801 Gulf Freeway
Dickinson, TX  77539

Memorial Contributions

1824 Ball St.
Galveston, TX  77550