Donald Don Lee Ballard

Mr. Donald Lee Ballard, age 84, of Lima, left this life on July 1, 2013, at 5:20 a.m., at Kindred Hospital, Lima, Ohio. He was born April 29, 1929, in Lima, to Robert W. and Lucile C. (Siferd) Ballard who preceded him in death.

From prior marriages, he is survived by daughter, Daryl Lou Clark, of Sylva, NC and sons D. Lee (Deb) Ballard, of Lake City, MI, and Gregg (Marlene) Ballard, of Nixa, MO. In 1970 he married Doneta E. (Stewart) Courtney and gained three more sons: David (Jean) Courtney, Daniel Courtney, and James (Michele) Courtney all of Lima. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ballard was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Lynn Ballard, a daughter-in-law Teresa (Daniel) Courtney, and a brother, William Ballard.

As a child, Mr. Ballard lived and attended public schools in Lakewood, Ohio, until 1945. He then graduated from Lima Central High School in 1947. He was an ambulance driver for Siferd Funeral Homes before entering the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean Conflict. He was associated with the family in the Ballard Hardware and then with the Stippich Hardware Co., on Bellefontaine Avenue where he was the manager. After retirement, he was once again associated with Siferd Funeral Homes.

He enjoyed local and civil war history, traveling the 49 states, but loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He had been a longtime member of the Grace United Methodist Church as his grandparents had been part of the founders. He then became a member of Forest Park Methodist Church, where he had been an usher and board member. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 1275, a member of American Legion Post 96, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Union Veterans and a member of the Lima Area Civil War Study Club. He had formerly been a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #370, Elks Lodge #54, Breakfast Optimist Club and F.O.P.A., where he had been the chaplain.

Funeral services for Mr. Ballard will begin at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Siferd-Orians Funeral Home, with Rev. Tim Benjamin officiating. Following services, his funeral procession will take him to Woodlawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Friday, from 4-8 p.m., at the funeral home, and one hour prior to services on Saturday.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.siferd-oriansfuneralhome.com