Marion Jimmie Ballinger

He first entered the Arkansas National Guard at age seventeen and was there to help quell the famous school integration riots in Little Rock.

He moved his wife and three of his children from Torrance, California to Salem in December 1971. There he became both a Journeyman Cement Mason and Carpenter until he medically retired in 1989. He was past President of the Willamette Valley Sporting Hounds Association and an active member of Salem First Presbyterian Church since 1972. He was also an active member of Pointman Ministries, Macleay chapter, Salem.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed making his own fishing poles and lures. He taught fishing to his children and his grandchildren. At a young age he was a bull rider. He loved old Southern Gospel Music and for a time sang bass in a country band. Above all he loved his family.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Jean. They were married almost 46 years. His daughters: Debbie Schacher (Dan) and Tammy Spencer, son: Jimmie Ballinger (Louise), along with nine grandchildren: Lindsey and David Schacher, Kayla Hunter, Marine Cpl. Justin Ballinger (Sarah), Marine Cpl. Blake Ballinger (Afghanistan, Stephanie, great-grandson Jayden), Trevor Ballinger, Brittany Spencer, Thomas Spencer, Brook Spencer and great-granddaughter Carmen Spencer. He is survived by ten brothers and sisters and their families and countless friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Jimmie Lee and Jackie Ballinger, sister Mary Jean Theman and his beloved son Duane M. Hunter whom he raised from the age of five until his sudden death at age fifty on March 22, 2010.

A Funeral Service will be held at Salem First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, February 2 at 1 pm followed by a brief reception at the church and a burial service at Belcrest with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the USO or the Veteran organization of your choice. Arrangements by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home.