John Richard Ballard

John Richard “Dick” Ballard, age 81, of Wyalusing, PA passed away peacefully on Monday, August 10, 2015 at the Towanda Guthrie Memorial Hospital with his loving family at his side. He fell asleep and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Dick was born on May 28, 1934 in Concord, NC, a son of the late William D. & Frances Towell Ballard. He later moved to Charlotte, NC, where he graduated from the Charlotte Technical High School in 1952. He married the former Sylvia Washam on July 5, 1953, the recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. He served an apprenticeship as an Inside Machinist at Norfolk Ship Building and Dry Dock Corporation and with the exception of 2 years active duty with the United States Naval Reserve from 1957 to 1958, worked there until 1965 when he went to work in Charlotte, NC for the Celanese Corporation from which he retired in 1992. In 2002, he and Sylvia moved to Pennsylvania to spend more time with their son and his family. He was a member of Eastgate Masonic Lodge. His hobby was Western Square Dancing and he called 20 years for various clubs in the Charlotte area. He was an active member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Charlotte and most recently at the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church in Wyalusing, PA. He is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia Washam Ballard and his son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Dr. Barry R. Ballard & Rev. Dr. Karen Ballard and by his two beloved grandchildren, Kirstyn and Wesley Ballard, all of Wyalusing, PA. He was predeceased by two sisters: Annie Richardson and Billy Johnson. Friends and family may call on Thursday, August 13, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, PA. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Sunset Memory Gardens, Charlotte, NC with the Rev. Dr. Robert Lair presiding. If desired memorial contributions may be made to the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, PO Box 25, Wyalusing, PA and or the John R. Ballard Fund for the purpose of assisting his grandchildren with their education, % PS Bank, PO Box 217, Wyalusing, PA 18853. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, PA. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Richard Ballard, please visit our flower store.