Frances Genevieve Meadow's Obituary
WESLACO - Frances Genevieve Ballard Meadow, affectionately known as "Gen" to her family and friends, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 12, 2018. She was welcomed on this day into the loving arms of Jesus Christ and also into the waiting arms of her husband Joe as this was their 60th wedding anniversary. Now that's an anniversary gift that can't be beat!. She was born July 5, 1933, in Harlingen and grew up in Weslaco. She was 85 years young. She is survived by her son Charles Joe Meadow Jr. and daughter Martha Anne Meadow Burton;, son-in-law Charles Wayne Burton and mother of grandchildren Judith Ann Stewart Meadow; brother Everette Bowen Ballard, Jr.; Grandchildren Ashley Malynn Meadow Schultz and spouse Alex Schultz, Heather Ann Meadow, William Joseph Burton, and Alyssa Anne Burton; and Great grandson Ezra Aaron Schultz; Sister-in-law Mary Carolyn Meadow Roberts; Nieces Shannon Roberts, Lorraine Ballard Turner, and Beverly Ballard Adams; and Nephew Eric Roberts. She was preceded in death by Charles Joe Meadow Sr; her father Everette Bowen Ballard and mother Martha Frances Coston Ballard of Weslaco; her father and mother-in-law Claude H. Meadow Sr and Willie Mae Tolbert Meadow of Cordele, Ga and brother-in-law Claude H. Meadow Jr. of Gainesville, Fl. Genevieve was a long time resident of Weslaco, Texas. She graduated from Weslaco High school in 1951 where she was on the editor of the yearbook, Head cheerleader, and center on the basketball team. Following high school, Genevieve went to Sul Ross with intentions of becoming a veterinarian but as she studied, she learned that people were her calling. She then transferred to UTMB where she got her BSN and RN in Nursing in 1956. She returned to the valley and practiced in Harlingen where she met her husband who was stationed there with the Air Force. Joe had gone to the hospital for his flight physical and... yes Gen was his nurse. They married on July 12, 1958. She traveled extensively as an Air Force wife and kept the family safe, happy and connected to Joe every time he was separated and abroad on active duty. During that time, she still practiced nursing by working in the local hospitals as a part-time ER and OB nurse and in local schools as a school nurse. They moved several times with the military before retiring back to Weslaco in 1974 to work with her father E.B. Ballard. In addition to being a caring and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Genevieve led an accomplished career as a Registered Nurse following their time in the military. She started work at Knapp Memorial Methodist Hospital as the Assistant Director of Nurses/Inservice/Infection Control and then as Assistant Hospital Administrator/Patient Care Services. She loved her nurses and was loved by them. In addition, she continued her studies, earning a Nursing Home Administrators license. She served on the board of directors for the local LVN school. She was an active member of the Texas Organization of Nursing Executives (TONE) where she served as president. In 1992 she applied for and was accepted into the UT Nursing Graduate Program but had to withdraw when she had a brain aneurysm rupture in that same year. After retiring from Knapp in 1992, Genevieve continued to work as a substitute nurse for Weslaco ISD and continued to be active in the organizations she had been a part of for many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir, the PEO. where she served as secretary, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also worked with and donated many historical items to the Weslaco Museum of History in the Ballard name. Genevieve had a strong faith in Jesus and the Lord. She is at peace now dancing with Joe and watching after all those she loved dearly. The visitation and funeral services will be held at McCaleb Funeral Home, 900 W. 4th, Weslaco, Texas 78596. Visitation will be on Tuesday 4-8 pm and chapel services on Wednesday, July 18 at 10 am. Burial will follow at Weslaco Cemetery, 1001 S.Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Genevieve's name to Aurora House, First Baptist Church https://onrealm.org/firstbaptistweslaco/Give, or Estero Llano Grande State Park.
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