Richard Bales

A celebration of Richard"s life and ministry will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church of Canyon, with Rev. John McLean, pastor, Rev. Lewis Holland, retired pastor, and Rev. Kevin Deckard, Associate Pastor of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Dr. Richard J. Bales, who served as a pastor and district superintendent in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church died Thursday at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. The 66-year-old Lubbock resident died from extended complications of kidney failure. Dr. Bales was born in Clovis, New Mexico on September 23, 1943 to Jud and Frances Bales. He graduated from Tulia High School in 1962 and from West Texas State University in 1968 with a Master of Arts degree and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1965 he married Noreen Putnam in Dalhart, her hometown. Upon graduation he was assigned to the School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia and later to Viet Nam. He returned from Viet Nam as a Captain, having been awarded a Bronze Star. After his discharge from the Army, Richard became a dearly loved and much admired band director in the public schools of Dimmitt, Canyon and Borger. In Dimmitt, he was awarded recognition in Outstanding Young Men in America. In 1978, Richard answered a call to ministry and graduated in 1981 with a Master of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He served in First UMC (Midland), Elmwood West UMC (Abilene), First UMC (Canyon), and as the District Superintendent in Big Spring. He was awarded the Denman Award in 1993 for outstanding work in evangelism by the Northwest Texas Annual Conference. During his pastorate in Canyon, four other members of FUMC also received the Denman Award for their outstanding work in evangelism. In 1999 Richard earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Seminary. In June of 2005, due to continued medical complications, Richard was forced to take incapacity leave from his position as District Superintendent. In the years that followed, he continued his ministry through writing and mentorship, including his participation in the Clergy Leadership Training Project at the invitation of Bishop Max Whitfield. During his ministry, he saw no fewer than 14 men and women answer a call to ministry. Richard is survived by his wife of 44 years, Noreen; his daughter, Camille Booth; his son, David Bales; six grandchildren, Alethea Swanson, Nick Swanson, Alex Swanson, Tabitha Booth, Noah Bales and Savannah Bales; and two sisters Betty Wood and Judy Groce. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Richard and Noreen Bales Music Scholarship at West Texas A&M University: West Texas A&M University Foundation WTAMU Box 60766 Canyon, TX 79016 (Make a note of Bales Music Scholarship in the memo)