Robert Charles Balfour, Iii

R. C. (Bob) Balfour III, a life-long native of Thomasville, GA, peacefully entered God’s Eternal Kingdom on February 21, 2025. He was 97 years old.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he was passionate about the land here in the southern pine forests. He was a hard-working businessman and an avid sportsman who was most happy working and hunting in the woods and fishing in the nearby waters of the Aucilla River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr. Balfour spent two years at the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD before transferring to the University of Georgia where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1948. He returned to Thomasville, and settled into his life as a cattle farmer when he met the love of his life, Virginia French, in the choir at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. She was a voice major at FSU, and was hired as a mezzo soprano to sing in the choir. On many Sundays, Mr. Balfour’s parents, Deborah and Robert Balfour, would invite her for lunch. During one of those occasions, he fell in love with Virginia as she sang “One Enchanted Evening“ accompanied by his mother on the piano.

As a newly minted graduate, Virginia moved to New York City to pursue a professional singing career. Wooing her with weekly love letters, Mr. Balfour finally traveled by train a year later to propose and was overjoyed when she said yes. He and Virginia were married 70 years and raised 5 children.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Balfour bought his father’s lumber mill and spent his career running it. He helped found the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association and was a board member of the Southern Pine Association, which is now the Southern Forest Products Association. He also served as board chairman of Tall Timbers Research Inc.

Service and Christianity were the threads that ran true throughout Mr. Balfour’s life and career. Serving his community was a hallmark of Mr. Balfour’s long life. He led many organizations including the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the Community Chest Drive (now United Way), Habitat for Humanity and Ducks Unlimited. As a member of the Rotary Club, he led the movement to integrate the club. Mr. Balfour served two terms on the Thomasville City Commission as chairman of the planning and zoning board. He helped bring the first off-street parking lot to Thomasville and tennis courts to Thomasville High School. He co-chaired the drive to build Clay Street YMCA (now Francis Weston YMCA) and led the drive to establish Thomasville’s only public golf course – Country Oaks. He passionately sought to integrate Thomasville City Schools, believing that learning among all races led to a more valuable and well-rounded education. He was Chairman of the Board of Archbold Memorial Hospital during the transition to Archbold Medical Center. He led the movement to establish the First PPO (Preferred Providers Organization) at Archbold and became Chairman of the Board of Archcare PPO, all designed to lower health care costs. In practically every worthwhile endeavor which has taken place in Thomasville, he has played an important and quiet role.

Every aspect of his life was imbued with his faith in Jesus Christ, and he fervently shared the love of our Lord with others. He was a devoted member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church since his early life as an acolyte and served in numerous leadership positions there and in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. He taught Sunday school for 30 years and was in the choir for 40 years. He was also a founder of Trinity Anglican Church in Thomasville where he was a member for the last two decades of his life. He continued his evangelism and witnessing through the local Crusades for Christ he organized and the books he authored. One of his proudest accomplishments was the establishment of the Robert C. Balfour III and Virginia F. Balfour Foundation to support organizations whose main focus is preaching the Gospel.
In retirement, Mr. Balfour discovered his writing skills. He considered writing neither work or drudgery . He said “For me, writing is fun. I just love the whole business – making up sentences and paragraphs – grammar and spelling, the whole thing!” He even loved the typing, often remarking that he could finally take advantage of the typing courses he endured as a young student. He authored several books including In Search of the Aucilla, and a series of books about Biblical figures from the Prophets to Paul and one called The Jesus I Know. He also enjoyed telling great stories about his fishing trips, hunting days and life experiences while weaving in his journey to faith which he put into three books, Fishing for the Abundant Life, Fishy and Gamey Tales and Summing It Up.

Mr. Balfour is predeceased by his wife, Virginia. He is survived by his five children: Bob Balfour (Vicki) of Thomasville, Virginia Balfour (Laurel Scherer) of Asheville, NC, Deborah Crabtree (Tommy) of Asheville, NC, David Balfour (Linda) and Charles Balfour (Shannon) of Thomasville; seven grandchildren, Lindsay Durfee (Ryan) of Orlando, FL, Thomas Crabtree (Lauren) of Nashville, TN, Rachel Crabtree of Asheville, NC, Stephanie Dean (Travis) of Athens, GA, Natalie Balfour of Thomasville, Drew Balfour (Melanie) of Thomasville, Hayes Balfour of San Diego, CA, and Honey Balfour of Charlotte, NC; and 6 great-grandchildren: Flynn and Violet Durfee, Kurt and Jay Balfour and Kylie and Jax Woods.

Mr. Balfour’s family is grateful for the kind and loving assistance provided by the caregivers who made it possible for him to stay in his beloved home during the last year of his life.

He will be remembered at a visitation at Allen and Allen Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 25 at 4:30-6pm. The funeral will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, Thomasville, on Wednesday February 26 at 2:00pm. The burial service at Laurel Hill Cemetery will immediately follow.” Everyone is welcome.