D.E. Gene Ballard

D. E. “Gene” Ballard, a resident of Napier Field passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Flowers Hospital. He was 85.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Hughes officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Napier United Methodist Church or Union Baptist Church in Slocomb.Mr. Ballard was born on March 5, 1925 in Geneva County and lived the early years of his life in the Union Baptist Church Community. He was a Veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Navy. He moved to Napier Field in 1947 and was employed with Hayes International as an aircraft mechanic leadman on the flight line for 33 years until he retired in 1984. Mr. Ballard was an avid golfer and loved fishing and bowling. He was a Mason as well as a member of the Napier United Methodist Church, the VFW Post, the Klondyke Music Center, and the Midland City Multi Community Center. Survivors include his wife of 62 years Jessie Lee A. Ballard of Napier Field; sons, Greg Ballard and his wife Traci of Napier Field, Robert “Bob” Ballard and his wife Darlene of Dalton, GA; daughters, Diane Gilliland and her husband Wayne of Montgomery, AL, Beverly Tanner and her husband Kylan of Houston, TX, Brenda Snell and her husband Greg of Napier Field; 15 grandchildren, Gena Jacobs and her husband Matt, Jamie Adams and her husband Kevin, Jay Gilliland, Jonathan Ballard and his wife Charlotte, Jamie Ruppel, Jennifer Ruppel, Joanna Ruppel, Zack Tanner, Jordan Tanner, Melia Tanner, Seleya Tanner, Tyler Snell, Anna Snell, Justin Snell, Zach Williams; a great-grandson Anderson Jacobs; a brother Jerry Ballard and his wife Sue of Slocomb; several nieces and nephews; a special friend “Fireball” Hardy.Mr. Ballard’s grandsons will be serving as active pallbearers. Burial Date: January 1, 1970