Edwin R. "Buck" Ballard

EDWIN R. “BUCK” BALLARD Another of the Greatest Generation, Buck Ballard, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2015 in Austin, Texas. Born June 13th, 1927 in Loranger, Louisiana, Buck lived a full life devoted entirely to love of family and faith. Buck was a proud son of Horace and Margie Morris Ballard and the 2nd of eight children. His childhood years were spent in the rolling hills of Tangipahoa Parish with his brothers and bird dog “Judy” and in New Orleans just a couple of blocks off St. Charles Ave. where he enjoyed skating around Lee Circle and playing baseball. His devotion to family led him to join the US NAVY as Gunners Mate 3rd Class on the USS Little Rock at the height of WWII just three months after his 16th birthday. Buck’s older brother Arvil was MIA on Guadalcanal and he became one of many brave young men who left home for the first time in their lives, and in this case, on a quest to hunt for older brother “Al”. Brothers Buck, Arvil, Rudy, Harold, and Jerrell proudly served our country and all returned safely home to families. Post WWII the oil business was booming and the lure of jobs took Buck, Al, and younger brother Rudy to the oil fields of west Texas where Buck met the love of his life, Marguerite Kelso, on a blind date in Big Lake, Texas. They were married in Gatesville, Texas in 1952 and spent the next 60 years together. Through the GI Bill he became a proud graduate of LSU and avid fan of his beloved Tigers. Geaux Tigers!! His job with Atlantic Richfield Oil Co. led to a position in the Houston office and a 35 year career as a petroleum geophysicist with final stops in Tyler and Lafayette. Upon retirement in Lafayette he formed an independent consulting company, BB Oil Finders. Buck and Marguerite lived 25 years in Lafayette and were very involved in volunteer work in the community and their church, Grace Presbyterian. Buck was involved in many volunteer activities throughout his life: a Board officer and baseball coach at Oaks Dads Club Little League, basketball coach at Northwest YMCA and Junior Achievement, all in Houston, Texas. He also served his churches for many years in deacon and elder positions at Oaks and St. Giles Presbyterian churches in Houston, First Presbyterian in Tyler, and Grace Presbyterian in Lafayette. In retirement he enjoyed being in the Krewe of Triton during Mardi Gras season, spending time at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette, golfing with friend Ed Zamadics, and just being with family in Austin, Ponchatoula, Hammond, Baton Rouge and his favorite place – the Ballard Fishing Camp in the swamps north of New Orleans. He was also very fortunate in being able to travel the world with wife Marguerite to many countries in Europe, and to Russia, China, northern Africa, the Middle East, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and the entirety of the US. The last five years of his life were spent close to family in Austin at Gaines Ranch Retirement Center and The Cottages Memory Care. Buck was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite; his parents, Margie and Horace; and his brother, Al. He is survived by brothers, Rudy and wife Edna (Holden, La.), Harold and wife Marian (Baton Rouge, La.), Jerrell and wife Gloria (Jackson, Miss.); and sisters, Peggy and husband Clift Martin (Hammond La.), Gail and Eugene Baham (Ponchatoula, La.), and Brenda Ballard (Ponchatoula, La.). Buck had two children with families that he loved dearly – his son, Howard and wife Tami and granddaughters Kelsi and Kylie; his daughter, Beth and husband Scott Spann; and grandsons, Austin and Scott “Sonny”; and granddaughter, Alexi and her husband Agustin Magruder; and great granddaughter, Ayven. A memorial service will be held at Brandon Thompson Funeral Home in Hammond, Louisiana on Monday, January 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. with interment to follow in Loranger Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Edwin “Buck” Ballard to Grace Presbyterian Church, 518 Roselawn Blvd., Lafayette, LA. 70503 or the Alzheimer’s Association. Without a doubt Buck is now involved in a heavy game of boo-ray with Marguerite, Arvil, Bobbie, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Shirley with a pot of gumbo and red beans and rice on the stove. Their laughter is contagious and evidenced by his great love for family. Laissez les bon temps roulette!!!!

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Edwin R. "Buck" Ballard

June 13, 1927 - December 17, 2015