William George Ballard

BEAUFORT - William (Bill) George Ballard, Sr., 83, of Beaufort, South Carolina died at home on February 7, 2014. Bill is the son of the late James Hervie and Willie Vivian Ballard. He was born on March 10, 1930 in Meridian, MS. His beloved wife of 55 years, Suzanne, passed in 2011. He is survived by one son, William G. Ballard, Jr. of Beaufort, SC; three daughters, Frances Peters of Gilbert, SC; Laura Pruett (KW) of Beaufort, SC; Elizabeth Mackey (Kelly) of Watkinsville, GA; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Bill was a long-time active member of the First Baptist Church of Walterboro, and more recently of The Baptist Church of Beaufort. While in Walterboro, he served as a deacon and was the long-time secretary of the church's Sunday School. He also taught adult Sunday School at a local halfway house. Bill was very active in volunteer work. He served as a volunteer for the Cancer Society and Colleton County Hospital; he served on the Board for the Colleton County Red Cross and on the county's Commission on Aging. Bill was the coordinator of Walterboro's Good Samaritan organization, working with local church leaders to provide gas, lodging, and food to people in need who were transiting the Low Country along the I-95 corridor. Bill was a member of Unity Lodge #55 in Walterboro. His interests also included gardening and the Atlanta Braves. Bill graduated from Meridian High School, Meridian, MS, in 1948 before joining the Mississippi Air National Guard. He graduated from pilot and officer training at the Air Force Pilot School in 1955. In 1960, Bill transitioned to the Alabama Army National Guard. He was activated for the Korean Conflict and again in 1961 for the Cuban missile crisis, remaining on active duty until 1973. While on active duty, Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and did post-graduate work at the University of Southern California. Major Ballard served three combat tours in Southeast Asia as a fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviator. His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Star Medals, multiple awards of the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and numerous campaign and service medals. A graveside funeral service, with full military honors, will be held at 1 o'clock Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Beaufort National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes that donations be made to The Baptist Church of Beaufort or the First Baptist Church in Walterboro.