William Richard (Dick) Ballard

BALLARD, TILTON, MILLER, PARISH, CUMMINS

Posted By: Jeannette Mahony
Date: 4/15/2009 at 08:04:51

Former music teacher dies

William Richard (Dick) Ballard, 1920-1986, 66, a former dance-band leader and retired manager of a local music store in Washington, died Wednesday, July 23, 1986, at the Washington County Hospital.

Mr. Ballard, who lived at 801 South Ave. B in Washington, had been in failing health for some time and was seriously ill for the past three weeks.

Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the Jones Funeral Home with the Rev. Walter Phelps officiating. Burial was in the LaHarpe Cemetery, LaHarpe, Illinois. Memorials may be given to the Cardiac Care Unit of Washington County Hospital or the Washington County Ambulance Service.

Mr. Ballard was born in LaHarpe, July 24, 1920, the son of William E. and Rhea Tilton Miller Ballard. He was educated in LaHarpe and graduated from Western Illinois University at Macomb, Illinois. He married Delilia Louise Parish at Franklin, Indiana on July 8, 1944.

Mr. Ballard served in the United States Army during World War II and played in Army Bands. He traveled with dance bands for several years and headed the Dick Ballard Orchestra. He was a music teacher in Cotter, Columbus Junction, Pleasant Plain, and Danville. Mr. Ballard was manager of West-Everetts Music Company until his retirement four years ago.

Surviving are his wife, Louise; four sons, William Richard Jr. and Gary Lee of Dillingham, Alaska; James Lynn of Richmond, Texas; and Mark Alan of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren; and one step-sister, Wiletta Cummins of Harrisburg, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.