Raymond D. Ballinger (80) of rural Stewardson

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Published on January 8 2018 10:10 am

Raymond Dean Ballinger, 80 of rural Stewardson, Illinois, passed away at 10:44 P.M. Thursday, January 4, 2018, in HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 9 in the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home of Neoga with the Rev. James Maroon of Neoga officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Stewardson Cemetery in Stewardson, Illinois with Military Services conducted by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be sent to the family, in care of the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, P. O. Box 339, Neoga, IL  62447.

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Ray was born June 26, 1937, in Paradise Township, Coles County, Illinois, the son of Henry A. and Opal F. (Shadow) Ballinger. Raymond served in the United States Army serving in Germany. He married Joyce A. Haverstock, February 25, 1961, in Strasburg, Illinois. Raymond was a former floor manager for Rural King Supply Company of Mattoon, IL. He also owned and operated with his family, Ballinger Woodcraft Co., Ballinger Demolition and Excavation and the Ballinger Grave Service and Cemetery Services. Raymond was very devoted to his wife, children and the  grandchildren and he was known to all as "Pappy". Raymond also had a very special bond with all of his many nieces and nephews. He would drop everything to help his family and friends. Raymond was a devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Raymond leaves his wife, Joyce Ballinger of rural Stewardson, IL after fifty-six years of marriage; three sons, Scott Ballinger and wife Cindy of rural Stewardson, IL, Steve Ballinger and wife Patty of rural Neoga, IL and Jim Ballinger and Wife Michelle of rural Toledo, IL; two daughters, Dorothy Long and husband Robert of Stewardson, IL, Judy Brown of Clarksville, TN: two brothers, J.G. Ballinger and friend Hazel Warner of Neoga, IL and Ervin Ballinger of Altamont, IL; eleven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and two on the way.

Raymond was preceded in death by: Parents; one daughter, Daisy May Ballinger; three brothers, Henry Jr, Marion and Dale Ballinger; one sister, Delores Mueller.