HOISINGTON — Robert Lee Ballard, 83, died March 30, 2013 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington.
Born May 11, 1929 in Akron, Colo., he was the son of Arlie Z. and Blanche Lee (Shell) Ballard. He was a graduate of Akron (Colo.) High School. On Aug. 16, 1950, he married Virginia McEwen at Territorial, Hawaii. A resident of Hoisington since 1965, coming from Hays, he was employed as a seismographer in the oilfield until his retirement.
Mr. Ballard was a United States Navy veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend. He enjoyed cars and spending time with grandchildren and was a fan of college football, the Kansas City Chiefs and NASCAR.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ballard, of the home; four daughters, Barbara Tournear and her husband Ron, Debra Giebler and her husband Steve, and Linda Pringle and her husband Steve, all of Great Bend; and Patricia Ballard of the home; seven grandchildren, Dana Baxter and her husband Mike, Farmington, Maine; Marcia Dietz and her husband Mike, Great Bend; Ann Haase and her husband Wyatt, Fairway; Capt. Andrew Giebler, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C.; Amie Scheuerman and her husband Brandon, Ellinwood; Jackie Pringle, Lawrence; and Kevin Pringle, Lawrence; four great-grandchildren, Alexandra Baxter, Danielle Baxter, Hunter Baxter, and Sawyer Haase.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Malachi Ballard, Frank Ballard, William Ballard, and Albert Ballard; and three sisters, Edith Bailey, Betty Robertson, and Beatrice Shook.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with Pastor Jeffrey Slater officiating. A private family interment will be held at Hoisington Cemetery.
Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main in Hoisington. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Clara Barton Hospital or Sunflower Diversified Services, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home #
415 N. Main
P.O. Box 146,
Hoisington, KS, 67544
Great Bend (Kans.) Tribune, April 4, 2013