FAYRENE T. BALIN

- May 31, 2022

March 2, 1921

Fayrene Balin, born March 2, 1921, celebrated her Graduation Day on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 101 years of age. She was born in Yoakum, Texas, on the 85th anniversary of Texas independence to her parents, Mary Louise (Carroll) and Charles Finley Timm. She grew up on land that was part of her ancestor John May’s original Mexican Land Grant, dating back to 1835, until her parents moved to San Antonio where they lived through the Great Depression.

Fayrene graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1938. At age 19, she married Arnold Beyeler, a graduate of West Point and the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in San Antonio. They moved to Miami, where as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he piloted trans-Atlantic planes as part of the war effort during World War II. During one of his missions in 1942, he went missing-in-action over the Atlantic. Fayrene was only twenty-one at the time when she became a war widow.

Fayrene returned to San Antonio and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at Incarnate Word College, while also earning a teaching certificate. In 1952, she married U.S. Air Force Cpt. Henry “Hank” Balin. Upon their marriage, they moved to Fontainebleau, France, where Hank was stationed at NATO Headquarters. During their three years there, Hank and Fayrene formed many lifelong, international friendships. Their first child, Tim, was born in Fontainebleau, and soon after Hank’s transfer to Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia, Fayrene gave birth to a daughter, Donna. The couple returned to Fayrene’s home in San Antonio when Hank was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base. Hank’s next career at Southwest Research Institute enabled their family to permanently remain in San Antonio. They raised their children in the Alamo Heights School District, where Fayrene also enjoyed a 20-year teaching career at Robbins Elementary and later Woodridge Elementary School. Hank passed away in 1993 after nearly forty-one years of marriage. Three years after Hank’s death, Fayrene met Charles Fraser at a seniors’ exercise

Fayrene was recognized for her 100th and 101st birthdays at the Alamo, which coincided with Texas Independence Day ceremonies. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the State Association of Texas Pioneers.

A chronological account of Fayrene’s life cannot express the true depth of her character, which was one of acceptance, faith, selflessness, generosity, wisdom, steady cheerfulness, and love and consideration for others. After a stroke, the two phrases that she was still able to enunciate were “Thank you” and “I love you”.

Fayrene was preceded in death by her parents, Finley and Louise Timm, and by her husband, Henry S. Balin. Fayrene is survived by her children, Tim Balin (Margaret) and Donna Balin (Andrew Scott); her grandson, Justin Balin, and granddaughter, Hayley Balin Zepeda (Zacharia); and great-granddaughters, Zoey and Isla Zepeda.

MASS TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022

12:00 PM

ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH

102 LORENZ RD.

Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sam J. Riklin Rotary Diploma Plus Program, which benefits at-risk high school students.

You are invited to sign

the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com Arrangements with

class, and they dated for seventeen years until Charlie passed away in 2014.