Eva Else Traude Gerda Fidelius Lambert Ballard, of Venice, Florida, found her eternal rest on January 10, 2021 at the age of 88 in San Angelo, Texas. She will be remembered for her elegance in all circumstances as well as her love for the arts, travel, good food, and great company.
Born on November 11, 1932 in Verden, Germany to Gerhard and Elfriede Fidelius, she was a member of the Lutheran Church baptized November 2, 1933 at St. Andreaskirche in Verden and confirmed March 30, 1947 at Zwolf Apostel Kirche in Berlin. She grew up during WWII and graduated from Sophie-Scholl-Oberschule in 1949. Eva married George Lambert, Capt US Army, on July 12, 1952 in Berlin. Immediately immigrating to America, she created a home to raise their only child, Glen, while George pursued his career in the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). She later married C. Ray Ballard on March 16, 1973 in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic gaining her second son, Donald. She traveled the world with Ray and supported him as he brought electricity and telephone service to remote regions of the United States and to developing countries worldwide as the deputy director of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). In 1980 they relocated from Reston, Virginia to Venice, Florida, and throughout her life there, Eva was a devoted member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed her long-standing membership at Mission Valley Golf and Country Club with Ray. She had a passion for art, music, literature, and entertaining and was a devoted daughter, mother, and friend. Eva will always be remembered for her generous hospitality and her apple cake.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ray Ballard; her parents; her son, Don Ballard; and her grandson, Ray Ballard. Eva is survived by her daughter-in-law, Barb Ballard of Clifton, Virginia; her son, Glen Lambert (Trish) of San Angelo; grandchildren, Victoria Spragg, Rebecca Edens (Mark) and Jessica Pirkle (Josh); great grandchildren, Christian Kibler, Sebastian Jackson, Ava Edens, and Mason Edens.
Memorial services are February 17th at 2:00 PM at Johnson's Funeral Home, 435 W Beauregard Ave, San Angelo, Texas and are pending at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 790 S Tamiami Trail, Venice, Florida to be followed by inurnment at Venice Memorial Gardens. In keeping with Eva’s generous spirit, her family requests donations be made in her name to TidewellHospice.org, SCIDAngelsforLife.com (the Ray Ballard Travel Scholarship), or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff of Lyndale Assisted Living, The Springs Memory Care, and 6-North at Shannon Hospital for their compassionate care during Eva’s final days. She finished her life as she began ... living through unprecedented times with grace, poise and beauty that came from within to light up the darkness for all who were blessed to know and love her. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com
