Walter Earl Ballard

Walter Earl Ballard was born March 5, 1956 in Stanton, Tennessee. He loved to say, he was birthed by his grandmother Alice Peterson Vaulx (MaDear). After his birth they moved to Gary, Indiana, where he attended Gary Public Schools and graduated from Arthur Campbell High School. He attended St. James Baptist Church, under the pastorage of Rev. Jerome Kirby.

Walter was a former employee at Bethleham Steel several years, then decided to move his family to Dallas, Texas in 1985. He also worked at Sun Chemical, Coates Screen and retired from Ricoh.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Martha Ballard; grandparents R V Sr. and Lucille Ballard; James R Vaulx and Alice Vaulx; 4 brothers, Willie Jr., James, Timothy and Jeffrey. Mother-in-law Harriet Riley; Father Charles (Sandra) Riley; one brother-in-law Charles Riley Jr. and one sister-in-law Gwendolyn Reynolds.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories to his wife, Charlene; son, Keimonte Earl Ballard; daughter, Chi Cheri Ballard; six grandchildren, Keiondre Ballard, Jaalyn Ballard, Keiona Ballard, Keiara Ballard, Zion Goff and Zuri Goff. Two great grandbabies; Simhari Wilkerson and Nyla Goff. Special nephew, Darryl Riley and daughter, LaShunda Maynard. Sisters, Faye (Sherman) Jones of Peoria, Illinois; Martha Ford; Christal (Arthur) Johnson and Latrease (Michael) Parks of Gary, Indiana; one brother Kenneth (Dianne) Ballard of Dallas, Texas; sister-in-laws, Linda Watkins of Peoria, Illinois, Denise Ballard of Atlanta, Georgia, Phyllis Riley, Juanita (Frank) Murphy, Beverly (Timothy) Greer, Yolanda (Londell) Railey; Brother-in-laws, Kenneth (Briana) Riley, Karl (Leslie) Riley, Latroy Riley, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.