George Raymond BALDERSON

BALDERSON, GOWEY, MERRICK, COOPER, MORGAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:55

June 24, 1901 --- December 26, 1967

Van Buren Teacher Dies in Ottumwa December 26

Funeral services for George R. (Turk) Balderson, 66, who died early Tuesday in Ottumwa Hospital, were held this afternoon (Thursday) at the Fairfield Methodist Church.

Mr. Balderson was the junior high school physical education and ship instructor at the Stockport center of Van Buren Community School.

He had been hospitalized at Memorial Hospital in Keosauqua and transferred to Ottumwa on Saturday. A memorial fund has been established in the Van Buren School athletic department.

He had taught eight years in Van Buren County and 12 years prior to this at Fairfield Community School.

He was born June 24, 1901 in Jefferson County, the son of George and Olive Gowey Balderson. He married Florence Merrick, June 21, 1933. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Mary Ann Cooper of Afton; three sons, Douglas of Henderson, Nev., Robert with the Air Force in Minot, N.D., and Stephen, a senior at Van Buren Community High School. Other survivors include six grandchildren; a brother, W.E. Balderson of Fairfield; a sister, Mrs. Mary Morgan of Richland.

Mr. Balderson was a Parsons graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology. He taught at Wapello for 3 years and Belmond 7 years, teaching Biology and
Coaching. From there he then taught in the Fairfield system for 12 years.

He took an 8 year leave of absence from teaching and was a Sales Representative for the Dexter Co. in Fairfield. He returned to teaching at Keosauqua in 1956 where he taught High School Biology and later Junior High Physical Education and Shop in the Van Buren School system.

Mrs. Balderson is a teacher in the Fox Valley School at Cantril where she had taught since 1959.

Weston Behner Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.