Robert “Bob” Martin Ballew, age 84 of Reidsville, North Carolina passed away peacefully on October 16, 2026, following a short illness. He was born on March 5, 1942, in Burnsville, North Carolina to Reid Austin and Isabel Wiseman Ballew.
Bob graduated from Blanton College in 1960 and went on to build a career in trucking management. He retired from Cone Mills in 2001.
On April 12, 1963, he married the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Foster. Together, they shared 63 years of marriage and raised a family built on love, respect, humor and doing the right thing.
Outside of work, Bob enjoyed cooking, bowling, and watching the Atlanta Braves and Duke Blue Devils with Pat. He spent many weekends cheering from the sidelines at Declan’s soccer and flag football games, and for years cherished playing golf with Bill Clark and Ralph Ward.
In recent years, Bob looked forward to Thursday nights when he, Marty and Lori bowled in the Thursday Night Mixed League at Triad Lanes in Greensboro, with Pat as their coach. Their team is affectionately known as the ‘Ballews Brothers’.
Bob will be remembered especially for his quick wit and his willingness to help anyone in need.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Pat; his son, Marty Ballew of Greensboro, his daughter Lori Richards (Ken) of Cary and his grandson, Declan Richards of Cary. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Mary Ellen Burns and Willie Mae Walton.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Glencoe United Methodist Church, 601 Glencoe Church Loop, Summerfield, North Carolina, 27358. The funeral service will follow at Glencoe United Methodist church at 11:00 a.m. and the graveside service will immediately follow at Westminster Gardens Cemetery, 3601 Whitehurst Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the American Lung Association or to Glencoe United Methodist Church.
