Welton R Ballard

“Red” Was born Dec. 30, 1925 in Lynn, MA to Welton B. and Carrie Ballard. He served in the navy in the Pacific in WWII and after returning earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of MA. He married Barbara Turner, July 2, 1950 in Framingham, MA and they had 2 sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. They lived in Fairhaven, MA, Rockford, IL and Harpenden, Eng. Before settling in Sun Lakes, AZ. He retired after many years at Sunstrand Corporation in Rockford where he was a manager in Electronics Engineering.

Welton Richard Ballard

Notes:

Attended Lynn Public Schools. Was in boy scouts and Lynn chapter of Demolay. Played basketball for Demolay and was on the team that won the New England championship. Also, as a teenager, along with neighborhood friends, he learned to play tennis using a private tennis court on the Lydia Pinkham Estate. Lydia Pinkham was famous in the early 1900’s for her herb “tonics” which were all natural as was the 40% alcohol in every bottle. Welton enlisted in the navy as a candidate for officer training on July 1, 1943. Attended Worcester Polytech and Bucknell Univ. After 4 semesters was transferred, in Dec 1944, to Midshipmans School at Fort Schuyler New York. After one month the program (V-12) was cut and he was transferred to the Naval training station at Great Lakes. Underwent training in fire control (ships guns) at great Lakes and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Transferred to Bremerton, WA to a pre-commissioning school as a crewmember of a new “baby flat top”, U.S.S. Point Cruz. During gunnery practice, while there, the war ended. The Ship was commissioned in Oct 1945. After shakedown cruise the ship served as part of the “Magic Carpet” Ferrying equipment and troops back to the states from the Pacific. Honorably discharged from the navy in Boston, MA. In May 1946. After he left the ship it was sent to the So. Pacific to participate as an observation ship for the atom bomb tests at Eniwetok Atol in the South Pacific.

Entered Univ. of MA is Sept 1946 at Fort Devens (an extension established to accommodate the influx of veterans) While there a friend (Bob Yeaton) introduced him to Barbara Turner from Framingham, something clicked in the relationship and after he graduated in January 1950, with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering they were married July 2, 1950. As of this writing the union lasted over 60 years, and produced three children and seven grandchildren, 5 boys and 2 girls and 1 great granddaughter. Employed Feb. 1950 through May 1956 by Cornell Dubilier Corp. New Bedford, MA as an electrical engineer in the ceramic capacitor division. Then went to Sunstrand Corp. in Rockford, IL as an engineer in the research dept. Worked on the design and development of electronic controls for aircraft electric power systems, starting with the B-52 in 1956 and practically all military and commercial aircraft developed from 1956 through 1988. Retired as section manager, electric power controls, after over 30 years with the company. Nine months after retirement, he went back to work to act as liaison engineer with Lucas Aerospace in England, for the A-320 Airbus. After 18 months living in England he and Barbara retired again in January 1988 and soon after built a winter home in Sun Lakes, AZ. Summers in Rockford, IL on a lake; and winters in AZ on a lake, is pretty nice living. The best part is no snow! Sang as a bass in church choirs for over 35 years, also sang with the Rockford College Chorale, and participated in performances with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Active in church serving in most every capacity including president and building committee chairman at Spring Creek Congregational Church in Rockford. Developed good handyman skills; however, his woodworking creations never matched those of his father.

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.