Ronald Fred Ballard, 61, was born on January 1, 1944 to John & Jewell Ballard in Oklahoma City, OK and passed away July 28, 2005, in Hinton, Oklahoma. Ronald graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1962. He served in the Army National Guard as a medic from 1963-1967. He was a member of the Myrtle Masonic Lodge #145. Ron was also a volunteer member of the Cedar Lake Fire Department. Ron worked all his life in air compressor and the service station equipment business. He last worked for Air Compressor Supply in Oklahoma City, OK. Ron's favorite hobby was doing genealogy. He also enjoyed watching his youngest son, Ryan, play football and power lifting and his grandkids.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Judy Ballard of the home; brothers: John Ballard & wife, Pam, of Blue Springs, MO and William Ballard & wife, Beverly, of Norman, OK; a sister Virginia DeShazo and her husband, Allard of Del City; his children Candy & Alan Couey, Moore; Tracy & Marcy Smiley of Shawnee; Stacie & Travis Kyle of Guthrie; Charlie Smiley of Oklahoma City; Toma Ballard & fiance, Tammy of Oklahoma City; Misti & Rob Melton of Folly Beach, SC; Michelle Beardslee & fiance, Harold Byfield of Oklahoma City; Mighael Ballard and his fiance Jennifer Neugebauer of Oklahoma City; and Ryan Ballard of Hinton, Oklahoma; two step-children: Shelia Goerend and her husband Russell of Weatherford, and Angela Sams of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren and a granddaughter, Reese Anne, on the way. Numerous loving nieces, nephews and friends also survive him.

Ronald was preceded in death by his mother, Jewell Virginia McManus; father, John Everd Ballard and three children. Services will be at 2:00 PM, Monday, August 1 at the First Baptist Church of Hinton, OK. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Minco. Services are under the direction of the John M Ireland Funeral Home & Chapel.

Published in The Oklahoman on 07/31/2005.