Last updated on September 20, 2022
Robert Lee Ballard, age 83, of Rockwall, TX, passed away September 14, 2022. He was born in Dallas, TX, February 10, 1939, to Ruth and Perry Ballard. Known by most as Bob, he spent most of his life in the Dallas area, graduating from Sunset High School in 1957, and briefly attending SMU and later UT Arlington. Bob married his wife Sylvia February 27, 1959, and they lived in Oak Cliff, Cedar Hill, Sulphur Springs, and recently in Rockwall. Bob played golf for the Sunset High School team, and he and Sylvia were members of several bowling leagues in the 60’s and 70’s. As his sons began looking to sports and other activities in 1970, Bob stepped away from his personal hobbies and volunteered to participate as a soccer coach when it was first introduced to the Dallas area. He would eventually manage as many as 8 teams as a founding member of the Oak Cliff Soccer Association, taking one of those Under 16 teams to a North American championship. As it was in so many chapters and efforts in his life, he only knew one way of doing things…all the way. Bob served as a deacon, chairman of deacons, and a class coordinator at churches in the communities where he lived over the years. His friends from his church family number in the hundreds and he loved every one of them. His faith and dedication to his church family was always a priority. Bob usually worked two jobs the first half of his life, and eventually made a career as a sales representative in the corrugated container business, finally forming his own company operating out of his home in Rockwall.
Bob is survived by his loving wife Sylvia Ballard; sons: Lonnie Ballard and wife Jill, and Bobby Ballard and wife Rita; and grandchildren: Scott and wife Ashley, Tish and husband Chase, Andrew and wife Brittani, Jenifer and husband Cole, Geoffrey and wife Kathleen, Wesley and wife Cristina; and 9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents: Ruth and Perry Ballard.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held 1:00pm Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at Reflections at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall location.
