Robert N. Ballard

Robert N. Ballard, 93, of New Philadelphia, died Monday, April 12, 2010 in Hennis Care & Retirement Centre at Dover following a period of declining health.A son of the late John and Lois (Wright) Ballard, Robert was born February 4, 1917 at Dover, Ohio.Robert was a 1935 graduate of Dover High School and on April 5, 1942 he married the former Jane Seibold. Together the couple raised two daughters, Barbara and Carol. For the majority of his life, Robert resided in the New Philadelphia area but he did reside for a few years with his family in Ashville, North Carolina.He was a carpenter by trade and retired as a cabinet maker from William Hutras Construction after 15 years of service. Prior to that, Robert was employed with Eberle Brothers Construction for 12 years.Robert was a member of World Wide Church of God at Canton and also attended Holmes United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia. He was also a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local #69.He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and picking blackberries to make homemade wine. Robert enjoyed traveling and was especially fond of the Great Smokey Mountains.Surviving is his wife of 68 years, Jane Ballard; his daughters, Barbara (Don) Sherrets and Carol Appleby both of New Philadelphia; four grandchildren, Lori (Tim) Porter of Massillon, Ohio, Lisa Fisher of New Philadelphia, David (Karen) Sherrets of Erie, Colorado and Leanne (David) Hofstetter of Mansfield, Ohio; nine great grandchildren, Kasey and Andrea Porter, Michael and Cody Fisher, Emma, Lauren and Katie Sherrets and Jake and Nick Hofstetter; a brother, Max (Frankie) Ballard of Ashville, North Carolina and his faithful companion, his dog, Buddy.Robert was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William Ballard.The family will receive friends on Friday, April 16, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Robert’s life will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Roger Warnes officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery at Dover. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.Contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to Holmes United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 267, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.