Katherine "Kitty" Ballentine

Having lived a long and full life, Katherine “Kitty” Ballentine “slipped the surly bonds of Earth, put out her hand, and touched the face of God” on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 23, at 2:30 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home-Dutch Fork Chapel with burial to follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Kitty was born in Columbia, SC, on June 9, 1926, to Thelma and Jack Pridgen. She is predeceased by her husband, Wells Fulmer Ballentine, her parents, her sister, Margaret Culbreth, a son, Roger Ballentine, a niece, Margaret Ann “Maggi” Watford, and a son-in-law, William “Billy” Engle. Surviving are her children: Martha Engle, Mary Demeter (Pete), June Beard (Doug), Mark and Michael Ballentine, daughter-in-law Lynn Ballentine, ten grandchildren including spouses, and five great-grandchildren. Kitty graduated from University High School and the University of South Carolina in 1946. Among her many roles were those of homemaker, active church member who taught Sunday School for over 35 years, and businesswoman with fond memories of working at Southern Bell Telephone Company and later at W.F. Ballentine Contractors. The adventures, joys, and difficulties of her life were numerous, but central to all was her great love for her family. The legacy that Kitty left them is three-fold: remember who you are and act like somebody; be “doers of the Word” and love Jesus; and strive to do things right the first time. Kitty was pleased that her investment in her family has yielded long-term dividends. The family would sincerely like to thank her devoted caregivers at Lexington Medical Center Extended Care.