Elmer Ballard's Obituary
Elmer Ray Ballard was born Feb. 14, 1943 in Bethel Bells, Texas. He was born the 4th child of 13 children, both brothers and sisters, to Mr. Arthur Ballard Sr. and Mrs. Annie Brown Ballard Hailey. He is survived by his loving wife, Norma G. Ballard and caring children, Manuel Wilson, Derrick R. Ballard, Darrell R. Ballard and Marissa A. Ballard.
Ray, as he was affectionately called by his family and his friends, not his children though, graduated on the summer day in May of 1962, from Fred Douglas High School in Sherman, Texas, and that very night was on the airplane headed for military boot camp to begin a career as an Airman in the United States Air Force. A long career which would span 30 years and include many commendations and awards as he climbed the enlisted man’s ranks where he would peak at the top as a E-9, Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, around 1985. A rank he would enjoy for approximately 7 years until his retirement in Tacoma, WA, where he would receive a parade ground ceremony that would cap a successful military career with full honors.
Our Dad was never one to stop working. He often told us how he started working as a child picking cotton on a farm and he never stopped working since. So after his retirement from the Air Force, he secured a job working for the Social Security Department for the Federal Government. He worked at the Department of Social Security for a number of years until he transitioned to the private sector working for Maytag Air Freight as a Supervisor handling cargo shipped around internationally around the world. His role with Maytag was especially suited for him as he was the NCOIC of the Mac terminal and the passengers that passed through there.
At Maytag Air Freight, he was afforded the opportunity to travel to many exotic countries around the world and visit many places as he did when he was in the military. He went to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Korea, Jamaica and Japan, just to name a few.
After his 3rd retirement, he dedicated himself into the church and the work of God by becoming an “Acting Deacon” at the New Life Presbyterian Church under Sr. Pastor Lim and Pastor Kim, here in Tacoma, WA. He attended weekly Bible study and choir practice for the Men of Faith Chorus, Immanuel Praise Team, Immanuel Choir and Joshua’s Men’s Ministry where he loved to sing for the Lord Jesus Christ. He became involved with the church’s outreach programs where they visited the homeless in homeless shelters and prisoners in prison and provided food for our poverty stricken brothers and sisters. Especially children in those conditions to give them hope and let them know that the “God of Love” has not forgotten them and that He was working through His servants to provide them some relief.
In his day to day activities of life, our Dad loved visiting the V.A. hospital because there he kept in touch with his old military friends “buddies and comrades” where he reminisced and talked about the “good ‘ole days”. He truly enjoyed that fellowship along with spending quality family time with us by going to the movies, eating out or just having a good home cooked meal while playing cards and board games. He especially enjoyed the trips out to the base with his loving great granddaughter, Trinity JoAnn Kearns.
Our Dad also kept himself busy with home improvements and was constantly trying to upgrade our home. So much so, that our mother had to hit the brakes and say to him a couple of times, “Hey, hey, hey, that’s too much, we don’t need all that!” Our Dad truly enjoyed his retirement and we enjoyed watching him, after all, he earned it!
We thank everyone for sending their condolences and paying their respects by remembering our Dad and his life here on earth as a Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Friend. We Love him and miss him, but never forgetting what is of the utmost importance, that our Dad is now with the Lord, Who is the Author of Life and the Author of Eternal Life, he is not dead, but more alive than he ever was.
Thank you from the Ballard family.
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