Mrs. Ruth Ballard

Mrs. Stanley Ballard, Sr., (Ruth) longtime resident of Terrell, passed away April 14, 2015. Ruth was born October 1, 1921 in Lawrence, TX to Theodore Dock and Mattie Elizabeth (Wright) Mirick. She graduated from Terrell High School at the age of 15 after which she attended Texas Military College (now SWCC) where she studied business accounting and received a two year degree. A beautiful lady inside and out, Ruth was voted to be Miss Terrell in 1937 and her timeless elegance and beauty was exceeded only by her incredible generosity. After marrying Stanley Ballard, Sr. in 1940 when she was 19, she made sure to set the highest example of being a supportive wife and dedicated mother. In addition to helping Mr. Ballard with his involvement and many responsibilities with Hella Shrine, Ruth served as past president of Dallas Women of Rotary having been acknowledged as a Paul Harris Fellow recognizing her contributions as well as 36 years of Perfect Attendance at the meetings. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile, Out to Lunch Bunch and Christian Women’s Class at Poetry Methodist church where she was a faithful member. She loved her family and many family members were blessed to receive wonderful handmade knitted and crocheted items that they will always treasure. Ruth loved her grandsons, West and Dock-she made sure that every opportunity to play with them was capitalized on and she even had a living room in her home converted to the boys’ playroom where she would play board games and other activities. When not helping her husband or her children, Ruth was a volunteer for Shriners and Hella Temple. She was always one to work ‘behind the scenes’ and her contributions were always of great value to the cause she was supporting. Her life embodied a Proverbs 31 wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves a legacy of generosity and kindness that her family will carry on as tribute to her beautiful life. Ruth was welcomed into Heaven by her parents as well as her cherished husband, Stanley H. Ballard, Sr. She leaves to celebrate her memory her son, Stan Ballard, Jr. and wife, Sue, of Poetry; daughter, Bettye Ballard of Poetry; grandsons: West Ballard and wife, Amanda, of Spring, TX; Dock Ballard and wife, Veronica, of Terrell; great grandchildren: Aidan and Adison Ballard of Spring, Alexandria Wilkerson and Grant Ballard of Terrell; sister, Elizabeth Mirick of Terrell along with numerous extended and devoted family members and a host of friends who loved her dearly. Funeral service will be at 2:00pm, Friday, April 17, 2015 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Chapel with interment to follow at Oakland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6-8pm, Thursday, April 16, at the funeral home. For those wishing, memorials may be made to the Rotary Club of Terrell at www.rotaryclubofterrell.com, or to Shriners Hospital for Children at www.shrinershospialsforchildren.org.