Ron was born on November 10th in Aurora, Illinois. He served in the US Marine Corps and attended the University of Miami. He created Ballou Steel in Chicago, Illinois and has owned Seacoast Inc. in Oldsmar Florida since 1970.
Ron’s engineering mind was dedicated to his steel manufacturing business which repairs drawbridges throughout Florida and the Southeast. He passionately focused that engineering spirit on his hobbies which included flying and horseracing. In a fitting tribute, his horse “Native Hawk” won the ninth race at Tampa Downs on the day of his death.
He was a bit of a hidden, but unapologetic, romantic as evidenced by his enthusiasm for Janet Evanovich novels and Twilight Series movies. His John Wayne and Jack Reacher “bromances” were born out of his fearless adventurousness.
Ron loved the History Channel. He possessed a factual, yet open-minded intellect and immersed himself in documentaries ranging from the Egyptian ruins to World War Two to the British monarchy to surmising about the scientific possibility of extra-terrestrial life.
True to form, he spent the last week of his life diligently going in to work at his office. By those who knew him, he will be remembered for the charm of his eccentric contradictions. He was as determined in his habits as he was graciously generous. He was a consummate gentleman who often broke out in bawdy verse.
He is preceded in death by his wife, E. Joan Ballou and his parents, Harry Dexter and Mary Scroggins Ballou. Ron is survived by his children Guy, Denise, Lisa, and Steve, as well as his grandchildren Dane, Corri, Drake, Danielle, Brad, Tom, Jeff, and Ally, his daughter-in-law, Diane, his son-in-law, David, his sister, Linda Rice and brother-in-law, Dennis.
Please join us in celebrating his life. All services will take place at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park (13401 Indian Rocks Rd. Largo, Florida). Viewing & Visitation will take place Friday, January 25th between 6:30 and 8:00p.m. in the Library Chapel. Refreshments and appetizers will be served. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00a.m. on Saturday, January 26th at the Lakeside Chapel. A luncheon in the Library Chapel will follow immediately.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a cause that was near and dear to his heart – Final Furlong Horse Retirement. To donate, please contact them via the following website: http://www.niallbrennan.com/ffhr.html or by calling (352) 732-7459.
