Charles Dustin Balderas

Charles Dustin “Dusty” Balderas was born on December 10, 1979 in Lubbock, Texas. He passed from this earth on March 11, 2025, at the age of 45.

Anyone who knew Dusty knew that his life long passion was band. This led him to Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. His career began in a small school in West Texas, then quickly moved to Plainview High School, his alma mater, to work with Barry Hurt, his former band director, turned mentor, turned friend. Then he ended his career leading the band program in Brownfield, TX.

Simply put…Dusty loved band! If you sat with him for any amount of time, you were bound to hear a band story. It was his life! He took great joy in teaching all levels of students to be successful on their instrument. He would put countless hours into anything that could help his students succeed. He also deeply loved his nieces and nephews. He loved watching them in the activities that they loved and they equally loved their “Uncle Dusty”.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents: Mike Valdez, Molly Valdez, and Manuel Balderas; his uncle Mike Valdez; and his aunts Helen Andrade and Diana Balderas. He is survived by his parents, Billy and Judy Balderas; grandmother, Janie Balderas; siblings Tiffany (and husband Phil) Buchanan and Jay (and wife Rebecca) Balderas; and his 3 nieces, 2 nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins as well as the hundreds and hundreds of band kids that he loved as if they were his own.

Dusty’s funeral service will be held on Friday March 14, 2025 at 2:00pm at Lucas Funeral Home 1601 S. Main St. Keller, TX 76248 with burial following at Bourland Cemetery 900 Bourland Rd. Keller, TX 76248.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to your local band program. If you don’t have a local band program to donate to, we would love for you to consider making a donation to the Timberview Middle School band program, the program that Dusty’s niece and nephew have been a part of.