Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30th at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Ryan Ballard officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 5 – 7 p.m.
Dawson, the son of Alvin Odis Ballard & Ivie Virgie Bennett Ballard, was born Oct. 31, 1930, in Clardy, TX. On May 1, 1953, he married Tommie Lou Slagle, building 60 years of family and memories before her death on June 21, 2013.
Mr. Ballard worked on his parents’ farm until he graduated from Deport High School in 1948. He attended Paris Junior College in Paris, TX from 1948-1949. Dawson worked for Speas Vinegar Company from Jan. 1951 – Feb. 1953. He worked for the Lamar County Tax Accessor/Collector from Feb. 1953-July 1953.
On Jan. 12, 1951, Edwin Dawson Ballard enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard, a Component of the United States Army and was a fulltime Technician for the Texas Army National Guard at Camp Maxey Texas from July 1953 to Oct. 1961. He served in the United States Army from Oct. 15, 1961 – Aug. 9, 1962, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana as Battalion Personnel Officer. Then again worked as a Texas Army National Guard Technician from Aug. 10, 1962 – June 1988, then performed Active Duty (FTTD) June 1988 until Oct. 1990 when he retired as Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) having served a total of 39 years, 9 months, and 19 days in The United States Military.
Dawson was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Tommie Lou, a son Kirk Ballard, and a brother, Delbert Ballard.
Survivors include a son, Kriss Ballard & wife Tena, a daughter-in-law, Beverly Ballard, grandchildren, Britany Ballard Creamer & husband Tyler, Caleb Ballard & wife Samantha, Kody Ballard & wife Ashley and Tifani Ballard, great grandchildren, Avery Creamer, Easton Creamer, Weston Ballard, Evan Ballard, Brooks Ballard and Emilia Ballard, two brothers, Tony Ballard & wife Karen and Mike Ballard & wife Janie and a sister-in-law, Mary Ballard along with numerous nieces & nephews and a host of friends.
Casket bearers will be: Kody Ballard, Caleb Ballard, Tyler Creamer, Danny Anderson, Robin Ballard, Mark Ellison, and Bill Lindsey. Honorary bearers will be: Tony Ballard, Mike Ballard, Buck Slagle, Ray Slagle, and Jody Slagle.
