Richard
Richard Ballowe
d. March 11, 2015
It is rare to find someone who only wishes to spend time with you & enjoy the conversation. Dick Ballowe was one of those people. Known to his family & many friends as “Bunyan” (for his former lumber skills) or Gang-Gang to a few of his grandkids, he enjoyed hugs & great stories; embodied a DIY or “figure it out” mentality; expected your best efforts & good heart; & provided unconditional love to all during decades of change in lifestyles & what constitutes “family”.
Richard/Dick Ballowe was born on August 5, 1919 in Elon, VA. He was one of 11 children born to Carrie Jefferson & Willard Roberts Ballowe. He was a 1938 graduate of E.C. Glass High School, was a Captain in the U.S. Army, married Frances Excell Wooldridge in 1945 & raised their 5 sons in Lynchburg. Dick retired from Babcock & Wilcox in 1984. He spent many hours on local ball fields & at Izaak Walton Lake with his family. Summers at the lake were a cherished tradition. While in his 30’s, Dick met a woman who taught him the art of chair caning. He has caned more rockers & chairs than can be imagined & passed that art to his youngest son. He caned well into his 90’s.
Upon his death on March 11, 2015 at age 95 he will join his parents, Willard Roberts & Carrie Jefferson Ballowe, & his siblings & their spouses – Frances Tinsley (John); Tom Ballowe (Amy); IlaRae Ledingham (Charles); Edwin Ballowe (Margaret); Webster Ballowe (Sally); Virginia Carlin (Les); Davis Ballowe (Hazel), Haldean Ballowe, infant Willard Robert.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances Wooldridge Ballowe & his 5 sons & their wives: Richard (Betsy); Steve (Tatyana); Ted (Sandie); Gary (Margery); & David (Angie). His greatest joys often came from his many grand & great grandchildren – Trey (April), Tanya, & Rene; Steven, Mason, Kristina, & Mila; Erin & Katie; Emily (Benji), Charles, Laurin, & Hampton; Chris, Ryan, Logan, Kory, Kaytlyn, & Chris. His 9 great grandchildren are Lydia, Kaleb, Meredith, Liam, Harrison, Kenzi, Brody, CJ, & Lila. He is also survived by his brother Glen Ballowe (Mary) of Annandale, VA & many nieces and nephews.
Some other pastimes were square dancing, gardening, watching sports, canning his garden products, & eating out. He was a treasured member of Memorial Christian Church where he was honored with “Dick Ballowe Day” for his decades of service as Assistant Treasurer and valued advisor.
Those who remember & love Dick or his family are welcome to celebrate his life at visitation on Sunday from 4-6 pm at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg or at other times at 1301 Ivy Lake Drive, Forest. Funeral services will be at Tharp on Monday at 10 am officiated by Reverends Virgil and Sue Knipp. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Those wishing to honor Dick’s life can contribute to a charity of their choice.
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.
Play Tribute Video HERE
Richard/Dick Ballowe was born on August 5, 1919 in Elon, VA. He was one of 11 children born to Carrie Jefferson & Willard Roberts Ballowe. He was a 1938 graduate of E.C. Glass High School, was a Captain in the U.S. Army, married Frances Excell Wooldridge in 1945 & raised their 5 sons in Lynchburg. Dick retired from Babcock & Wilcox in 1984. He spent many hours on local ball fields & at Izaak Walton Lake with his family. Summers at the lake were a cherished tradition. While in his 30’s, Dick met a woman who taught him the art of chair caning. He has caned more rockers & chairs than can be imagined & passed that art to his youngest son. He caned well into his 90’s.
Upon his death on March 11, 2015 at age 95 he will join his parents, Willard Roberts & Carrie Jefferson Ballowe, & his siblings & their spouses – Frances Tinsley (John); Tom Ballowe (Amy); IlaRae Ledingham (Charles); Edwin Ballowe (Margaret); Webster Ballowe (Sally); Virginia Carlin (Les); Davis Ballowe (Hazel), Haldean Ballowe, infant Willard Robert.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances Wooldridge Ballowe & his 5 sons & their wives: Richard (Betsy); Steve (Tatyana); Ted (Sandie); Gary (Margery); & David (Angie). His greatest joys often came from his many grand & great grandchildren – Trey (April), Tanya, & Rene; Steven, Mason, Kristina, & Mila; Erin & Katie; Emily (Benji), Charles, Laurin, & Hampton; Chris, Ryan, Logan, Kory, Kaytlyn, & Chris. His 9 great grandchildren are Lydia, Kaleb, Meredith, Liam, Harrison, Kenzi, Brody, CJ, & Lila. He is also survived by his brother Glen Ballowe (Mary) of Annandale, VA & many nieces and nephews.
Some other pastimes were square dancing, gardening, watching sports, canning his garden products, & eating out. He was a treasured member of Memorial Christian Church where he was honored with “Dick Ballowe Day” for his decades of service as Assistant Treasurer and valued advisor.
Those who remember & love Dick or his family are welcome to celebrate his life at visitation on Sunday from 4-6 pm at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg or at other times at 1301 Ivy Lake Drive, Forest. Funeral services will be at Tharp on Monday at 10 am officiated by Reverends Virgil and Sue Knipp. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Those wishing to honor Dick’s life can contribute to a charity of their choice.
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.
Play Tribute Video HERE
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Ballowe, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 16
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors