William Arles Ballard

Reverend William A. "Bill" Ballard, 73, of Abilene, went home to meet his Lord on Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 12:40 A.M. A funeral service, with Reverend Louis Brewer officiating, will be at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 18, 2006 in The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Hawley Cemetery under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bill was born in Brookston, Texas on October 24, 1932. He is the son of the late William Erice and Eula Mae Murrah Ballard. The family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1937. At age 15, he quit school and went to work at Crestview Memorial Cemetery to help support his mother after his father's death. He later went to work as a route man for Martin Linen Supply Company of Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1953, he served his country in Germany for 2 years during the Korean conflict. Upon returning to the States, he went back to Martin Linen Supply and was transferred to the Abilene branch in 1964, where he completed 25 years of service with the Company. In 1975, he began a new career with Mrs. Baird's Bakery as a route man and supervisor until his retirement in 1995. Bill was ordained on November 6, 2005 as a minister of the gospel and became pastor of Community Baptist Church in Abilene. Survivors include: his wife, Ada Bea Jackson Ballard, of Abilene; two daughters, Robin Kirkland of Wichita Falls, Texas and Louann Schmidt of Tyler, Texas; one son, William A. Ballard, Jr. of San Antonio, Texas; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss their Papa dearly. There's a new star shining brighter in the heaven's skies tonight and forever.