William Van Balen Obituary

William John "Bill" Van Balen, 96, of Bristow, Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025, after a brief decline in health. Born April 5, 1929, in Albany, New York, Bill was the eldest of Beatrice Farrell and John Van Balen. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Leyden High School in 1947. He earned a B.A. in Biology from Culver-Stockton College and served in both the U.S. Navy Reserves and U.S. Army. Stationed at Heilbronn am Neckar, Germany, Bill served as a Corporal in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 502D Communication Reconnaissance Group of the Army Security Agency, working as a cryptologist in the Allied Occupation of post-war Germany. In 1955, he married Trudy Kössinger. The couple settled in Annandale, Virginia, where Bill worked as a Patent Examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office until retiring in 1989 after nearly 40 years of government service.

Bill was a competitive swimmer, guitarist, and lifelong community volunteer. A long-standing member of St. Albans Episcopal Church in Annandale, VA, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, D.C. Cregier Lodge No. 81, Wheeling, IL, and held the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago for 73 years. He was a Kena Shriner in Fairfax, VA, as well as a member of the Arlington-Fairfax Elks, Lodge 2188.

Bill lived life to the fullest. He will be remembered for his warmth, wit, and remarkable ability to make everyone feel like family. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years. Survivors include daughter Christina (Thomas) Harrigan, grandchildren Megan and Sean, and extended family. A Masonic and Christian service will be held at 2 p.m. August 8, followed by a reception at Pierce Funeral Home, Manassas, VA. Interment will be 1 p.m. August 11 at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of William Van Balen to St. Albans Episcopal Church, 6800 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 or to Shriners Children's Hospitals at shrinerschildrens.org.