Myron A. “Mike” Balcom, 89, of Sour Lake, passed away quietly on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at the home of his son Craig Balcom in Beaumont. Mike was born in Luling, Texas on September 25, 1927 to the late L.B. and Edith (Taylor) Balcom. He was a loving and generous family man with a great sense of humor and his presence will be missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and church.
Mike attended school in Brownsboro, Texas, then at age 17 began his military service. He was a veteran of two wars; he first served in WWII in the Merchant Marines, and then served in the Korean War as a Naval aviation mechanic. He graduated from Sam Houston State College in Huntsville in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts and soon after began his illustrious thirty-five years career with Mobil Pipeline Company.
Mike and Carolyn were married on June 15, 1957 in Corsicana and were married for 44 years until her passing in 2001. He is survived by one daughter, Marcia and her husband, Arnold Pierce of Sour Lake, and one son, Craig Balcom of Beaumont. Grandchildren include Jessica (Pierce) Dempsey and her husband Curt of Richmond, TX, and Jacob Pierce currently of Lake Charles, LA. Great-grandchildren include Sarah Belle Dempsey and a baby due in January. In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by his older brother L.B. Balcom, Jr.
Myron was a natural born mechanic who could fix anything. He loved to spend his spare time in his garage rebuilding cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. He loved motorcycles and had his first Harley at age 16, which he rode all over Europe soon after WWII ended while in the Merchant Marines. He bought his last motorcycle when he was 65 years old and rode it until he was almost 80.
"Pops" traveled the world working for Mobil Pipeline as a mechanical supervisor and played a key role in the construction of the Alaskan pipeline in 1968 and the Saudi Arabian pipeline in 1979. Mike and Carolyn retired from Mobil in 1988 and built their dream retirement home in Countrywood Estates in Sour Lake in 1992 where they both lived comfortably for the remainder of their lives.
In 2006, unbeknownst to his family or friends, Mike established the "Myron A. Balcom Industrial Technology Endowed Scholarship Fund," which provides scholarships each year to Industrial Technology students at his alma mater, now known as Sam Houston State University.
Mike had a great personality and was loved by everyone who knew him. Over the years he fixed just about anything that had a motor on it for everyone who asked and he never asked for a cent from anyone. He was a strong, Clint Eastwood type of man who never complained when he was sick or hurt. More importantly, he was a great man of faith who loved Journey Community Church in Lumberton, where he worshipped nearly every Sunday and served as an usher.
May he now rest in peace with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternity. He will not be forgotten by those who had the pleasure and honor to know him.
A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Haven of Rest Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will begin at noon prior to the service, and a reception will follow the interment.