Allen C Ballentine

A.C. Ballentine, 88, of Cabot passed from this life on December 10, 2014. A.C. was born on April 12, 1926, the son of Mrs. Effie Ballentine. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fawn A. Ballentine, his mother, one brother, Loyce Ballentine, one sister, Helen Johnson, and by long-time close friend, Mary Hayes. He is survived by one son, Richard Allen Ballentine and wife, Nita, of Cabot, one daughter, Merilyn Gayle Frazier and husband, Gary, of Booneville, one grandson, Adam Frazier of Oklahoma City, one granddaughter, Sarah Reed and husband, Blake, of Topeka, one sister, Joyce Hale of North Little Rock, and a large number of nephews, nieces, and good friends. He was a member of the Concord United Methodist Church. A.C. served 3 years in the U.S. Navy, enlisting during World War II when he was 17 years old. His ships included the USS Kaskaskia, the USS Lowry, and the USS Barton. A.C. was a participant in Operation Crossroads, the U.S. nuclear testing program in the Pacific Ocean. He entered the Arkansas Air National Guard in 1952 and served until 1975, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He considered it an honor to serve his country. Accompanied by his children, A.C. enjoyed being part of an Honor Flight trip for veterans to Washington, D.C. in October, 2012. After leaving the Navy, A.C. began a career in construction. He started as a carpenter and became employed with N.P Alessi Construction in Little Rock in 1957. He worked his way up to the position of General Superintendent, overseeing projects such as the North Little Rock Boys & Girls Club, the North Little Rock Police & Courts Building, and Fulbright Elementary School in Little Rock. After 23 years with Alessi, A.C. became Superintendent of the North Little Rock Street Department. He retired from the Street Department in 1988. In his later years, A.C. enjoyed traveling to various places around the country visiting family and in connection with the USS Kaskaskia annual shipmate reunions. A.C. had a unique ability to strike up a conversation with almost anyone and became friends with many. One of his favorite places was Cheryl’s Diner in Cabot where he enjoyed eating, visiting with his many friends, and picking at his “girlfriends.” Family visitation will begin at 1 p.m. and memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. at Concord United Methodist Church outside of Furlow. Interment of ashes will be at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, accompanied from the church to the cemetery by the Patriot Guard. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 13, at Concord United Methodist Church in Furlow, Arkansas. Interment with Military Honors will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72216.