Name: Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home
Address: Metairie, LA

We will be thinking of Ron at our 30th Franklin reunion...

   The family of 
RONALD JOHN BALLESTAS
finds healing in God's tender embrace and in knowing others remembered and cared. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Bobby

Gone but not forgotten may God continue to bless you and your family

My life will never be the same. I miss you and love you.

My family prayers are with you all. Ronnie's laugh and stories alway reminded me of my broter Charles. I know he will be missed.
Mary Lynn Broussard Huguet

To be around Ronnie you neer felt sad.
He brought love and joy.
I've never seen him mad.
God takes the good and leaves the bad.
Ronnie, I miss you and all my memories of you will always be glad.

Words can't describe how much I will miss you. You were a wonderful person and the best uncle a person could ever ask for. I love you with all my heart and will never forget you.

To my loving, baby son Ronnie,
I will always miss you. You brought joy and happiness to me and the family. You were always the first to arrive at family gatherings and the last to leave (of course with your baskeeta). My most memorable time of being with you was when Pope John visited New Orleans. As the Pope passed us, the ministers were handing out Communion. Two hosts were placed in your hand and you gave me Communion blessed by Pope John that day.
I love you my baby.

Ronnie, my son, I love you so much and will sadly miss you.

We mostly saw Ronnie at Christmas and Easter. I knew him as Bobby's brother. He always got something for us at Christmas, which we considered thoughtful of him. Jesus said,"Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God". Ronnie had a pure heart, free of all selfish intentions. Many times he performed acts free of any personal gain. Such acts are pure love. His pure and selfless giving brought happiness to all of us. Thanks Ronnie, and we love you. Crystal S. Ballestas and Daniel

Ronnie said it best, "He's my brother". He was the best brother a person could ever have. He was a "brother" to everyone around him. He had a helping, caring nature, and loved to laugh. His laughter I can still hear. We will all meet again one day in a perfect world with the Lord; no more pain, sorrow, death, and I look forward to that glorius day. Thor, reach your hammer! We love you and always will.

My deepest sympathy goes out to the Ballestas Family.  Ron was a great guy.  He always had a smile and knew how to make you smile also.  We will miss him at Keller Williams Realty.  When you start to miss him, remember the good times.  May God be a comfort to you all during your time of bereavment. 

Althea

Ronnie was a wonderful son, thoughtful brother, and a terrific uncle to all his neices and nephews.  He was also a good friend.  I never met anyone with a better personality and outlook on life than Ronnie.  He will forever be missed.

Our deepest sympathy to Ron's family and friends and may your memeories give you strength.
 Ron, you were one of a kind.

To the Ballestas family,
What a wonderful time we all had growing up on Nashville Ave.  When I think of Ronnie, a big smile comes to my face.  He was always so warm, friendly and funny you couldn't help but feel good when around him.  I am so saddened by this loss but pray that your hearts will soon be filled with wonderful memories of the joyful times you had together as you celebrate a life well lived.

I knew Ron at Franklin.  He was always fun and kind to everyone.  I am so sorry to learn of his passing.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Funky, Nicole has a video of you doing the moon walk. Savannah joined in with you. She now knows how to do the funky dance. You had everyone chuckling. We even asked for an encore, which you gladly performed. We love you so much.

Ronnie, I just have the hardest time with the fact that you are not here. You will always be in our hearts and when I close my eyes I will see your sweet smile. Love you Godchild..

Ode to Ronnie

I believe we all agree that Ronnie was as intelligent as he was sensitive - sensitive first to his family's needs, next sensitive to the needs of his Church, then his friends at large and, finally, sensitive to his own needs.

William Shakespeare wrote, "How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

Ronnie was such a candle in our ever-increasing naughty world. He threw his beams upon me during my darkest days - beams of honor and especially beams of humor. The wholesomeness of these beams on me, for me, I will never be able to measure. Ronnie was my brother-in-law and my true friend. I love Ronnie, as all who knew him do, and for the rest of my days I will dearly miss him.

Ronnie, I miss you so much. Just looking at all your pictures and videos makes me realize no one could make me smile like you could. I wish you were still here. You were the best uncle there ever was!! We all love and miss you more than anything, but I know you're in a wonderful place now, and I hope you're finally enjoying it. I love you!!!! Watch over me.

It is hard to put into words but all I know is how I feel and that is that the world seems a little emptier now.  My thoughts and prayers go out to your family Ron.

I share your prayers, thoughts, and hopes for Ron's family and friends that our grief at this sad news of Ron's passing will be soothed by our memories of Ron's consummate humor and goodness.

Dear all of my old next-door neighbors, I am so sorry to hear of Ronnie's passing.  I have the fondest memories of seeing you all every day for the first 10 years of my life.  Kick-the-can, hide-and- seek, red-rover - all played with Ronnie on that wonderful block.  You are all in my thoughts and prayers.  Mark

Ronnie, Funky, Onnie, Ronster...
I just want you back.  I keep waiting for you to burst through the door, look around, and say, "What happn'd?".  We'd all take the cruelty of such a practical joke over the true loss of you.  Then you'd fuss us for making you have to prove to Liberty Mutual that you aren't really dead and for taking your Eeyore throw and picture of you, Trinket, and Sweetie.  And we'd say, "Oh well!" and make you take us to Domilise's or Franky & Johnny's.  Imagine the organic and natural food I'd force-feed you after that.  And you'd make me go with you to church every Sunday morning.  But then I'd whine about waking up early, and we'd compromise by going to 11:30 mass.  And you'd give Savannah a dollar to put in the collection because I'd forget to get cash like always.  And then, we'd all be hungry by the time we got out and so you, me, and Savannah would go get some lunch.  Maybe a bento-box.  Then you'd retreat with a full belly to your afternoon nap.

And that's how I feel.

But every time I look at your picture and with each passing moment, I realize that you won't be bursting through any Earthly doors.  Or going to Domilise's or Franky & Johnny's.  Or going to mass.  Or giving Savannah a dollar for the collection.

And thats when it feels like there's a hole going straight through the center of me.  Like a slight gust of the calm Sunday morning breeze could make me fall into a million pieces.  And then, for some reason unbeknownst to me, I can hear what you would say in the back of my head.  "Don't cry dawlin'.  I'm still gonna be wit'cha."  And since I trust you more than I trust myself, I believe you.  Just know that I will perpetually love and miss you.  And I am sad you had to go.  I can't wait 'till I see you again, so until then, talk to ya later, dawlin'.

Love always,

Raechel

I remember Ronnie fondly from high school and am happy to have been able to re-connect with him at reunions and, more recently, via Facebook. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ballestas family.

I miss you little brother with all my heart and soul. Live now in peace with God.

Ron was a special friend.  We worked together at Keller Williams Realty.  He will be missed.  I will always remember his wit and sense of humor.  I will never forget his business card with a picture of him and his dog on it.  He is in a very special place now, one where we will all meet again some day.  God bless!

My condolences to Ronnie's family.  I will miss Ronnie's smile, sense of humor, gentleness and compassion.  He was a wonderful character.  Bon Voyage my friend.

Ron was a great friend of mine at Franklin, I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing.  His bright smile and laugh always made me happy.  May God's Blessings be with his family as they try to cope with this sad day.

Ronnie...  You were a good friend in high school and a great humorist as an adult.  Safe travels...you are in good hands. Prayers for your family.
Patti Berlin Williams (Asheville, NC)

To the family of Ron;  Ron has been one of the most special people in my life.  I am so sadden by this news.  I loved him so much.  There will be a hole in my heart and soul that will never be filled again.  Please know my heart and prayers are with you.  A friend of Ron's in eternity.  Diana Klotz, Keller Williams

Godspeed Ron, I miss your great wit and the times spent at Franklin.  Condolences to the family.

Funkmeister! The name suits you well. Any time I was around you, you were the comedian of the group. I will always remember your sense of humor, the smile you always seemed to have on your face, and the laughter you evoked from all those around you. I will miss your funny facebook comments and status updates and your grand yet crazy ideas. I feel blessed to have known you. Your family and friends will forever miss you. Thank you for bringing that extra sunshine into our lives. Forever rest in peace...With love.

My prayers are with the family at this difficuilt time. Ron was my recruit at Keller Williams Realty. He was a very caring and religious person. I will always remember his letters to the editor, and his wonderful smile. He will be missed.
Beverly Ranlett, Metairie, La.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Stunned by the news, too, too soon to pass from this world. I'm so glad we were together to watch the Saints win the Superbowl! There were a lot of friends we all hadn't seen in years...who would have guessed it would be the last time to see Ronnie.

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family in this sadden time. Employees at Pyburn & Odom MCA

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Was sad to hear of my Cousin Ron's (Ronnie's)passing. I will always remember his great smile and laugh. Know that my prayers and love go out all of you, his family & extended family during this tough time.

OBITUARY

Ronald John Ballestas

October 20, 1962 – April 11, 2010

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