Eugene "Gene" Ballard

Eugene “Gene” M. Ballard, 86, of Fort Worth, went to his Heavenly Home on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Funeral services , under the direction of Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Central Baptist Church in Itasca with Pastor Matt Dugan and Reverend Drew Lacy officiating. A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday at the church prior to the service. Burial will follow at Itasca Cemetery in Itasca.

Gene was born on February 14, 1933, in Pettus, Texas, to M.H. “Tige” and Lois (Sparks) Ballard . He attended and graduated from Robstown High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was an aircraft mechanic. Shortly after bootcamp, on April 5, 1953, he married May Germer in Driscoll, Texas.

After his discharge from the Navy, he continued his education at Texas A&I, earning his Bachelor of Education degree, becoming a lifelong educator, teaching math and chemistry in Falfurrias and Houston before retiring from Itasca ISD after teaching there for 23 years. He loved his students.

After retirement, he began a small engine repair shop. Gene was a member of Central Baptist Church in Itasca.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

He leaves his wife of 66 years, Ethel May (Germer) Ballard; 2 daughters, Rhonda Ballard of Fort Worth, and Karen Baker and husband, Jerry, of Fort Worth; 7 grandchildren, Clent Baker, Jerrid Baker, Kyle Baker, Bryan Terrell, Amy Schenk, David New and Jonathan New; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Raymond Ballard and wife (Melba) and Bobby Ballard and wife, Wynon; and sister, Jo-An Ballard Bush.

“1 4 3"

Visitation

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ,Thursday, April 18, 2019
Central Baptist Church
401 East Monroe St. Itasca, TX 76055

Funeral Service

2:00 PM ,Thursday, April 18, 2019
Central Baptist Church
401 East Monroe St. Itasca, TX 76055

Burial

Thursday, April 18, 2019
Itasca Cemetery
Hwy. 66 Itasca, TX 76055