Runnels County Obituary Records
Runnels County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Ballinger, Texas. Located in West Central Texas along the Colorado River, Runnels County has vital records dating from 1903.
Runnels County Overview
Runnels County Clerk Death Records
The Runnels County Clerk's office in Ballinger is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Runnels County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
Runnels County lies in West Central Texas along the Colorado River valley. Ballinger is the county seat and the main commercial center. The county's economy centers on farming -- cotton, grain sorghum, and wheat -- along with cattle ranching. Oil and gas production adds to local revenue. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is a practical option for certified death certificate requests without traveling to Ballinger.
| Office | Runnels County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 75, Ballinger, TX 76821 |
| Phone | (325) 365-2634 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Runnels County Obituaries
Order Runnels County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Runnels County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Ballinger Ledger and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Runnels County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Ballinger courthouse.
Requesting Runnels County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Runnels County Clerk, P.O. Box 75, Ballinger, TX 76821. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Runnels County Obituary Records
Runnels County death records from the early 1900s reflect farming and ranching families who settled the Colorado River valley after the frontier era ended. The county was organized in 1880 and named for Hardin R. Runnels, a governor of Texas. Ballinger grew along the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway and became a regional market town. Early records document the families who broke the sod and established farms on the Texas plains. German and Czech immigrants settled parts of the county alongside Anglo-American families from the South. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Runnels County entries.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Runnels County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Runnels County Clerk in Ballinger maintains death certificates and vital records for this West Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Runnels County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Runnels County.
Runnels County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (325) 365-2634, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Runnels County is located in West Central Texas along the Colorado River.