Bobby Lee Ballard, 83, of Marshall, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, July 22, 2022. Born to parents Pansy and Carmel Ballard in Leicester, North Carolina on January 30, 1939. He was a nearly life-long resident of Madison County. Bobby is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents Bessie Duck Ballard and Charlie Ballard, his sisters Louise Wilson, Susan B Bailey, Carolyn Rice and his brother Gene Ballard.
Bobby’s greatest loves in life were his incredible wife Betty P. Ballard, his family and his church. Bobby and Betty were married in 1963 and recently celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. They lived together on their family farm in Marshall for over fifty years, where Bobby loved to look after cattle, grow an impressive garden year after year and help build homes for his always expanding family. Bobby had an unstoppable work ethic and was talented at almost everything from operating heavy equipment, running an underground construction business and managing the farm to storytelling, teaching his loved ones about the Bible and looking after his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed his many titles, but especially cherished being called “Daddy” and “Papaw”. Bobby was a devoted member of Laurel Branch Baptist Church for forty-six years. His faith was pivotal in his life through his love for Jesus Christ. He brought a limitless amount of generosity, compassion, kindness, gentleness and love to each and every person he met. To lose him is heart breaking, but to know him was a one-of-a-kind joy.
He is survived by his loving wife Betty, his brother Ernie Ray Ballard, and his adoring children Tamara Lee Ballard and Terry Dewayne Ballard (Karen). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jake (Alixis), Lee, Luke (Teresa), Emily and Chloe Ballard, Ben (Ashley), Anna and Jenna Zimmerman; great grandchildren: Ace and Reagan Ballard, Carter and Cainan Ballard, Reese and Reagan Zimmerman and Owen Ballard (expected October 2022).
A service to celebrate Bobby’s life will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service, officiated by Reverends Steve Honeycutt, Charles Rogers and Bruce Buckner. The Coates family and Mary Lynn Norton will sing at the service. Burial will follow at Ballard Family Cemetery, Carter Lane, Marshall. Serving as Pallbearers will be his grandsons along with David Norton and Kevin Roberts. The family will receive friends from 1:30 – 3:00pm prior to the service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.