Avis P. Ballinger

Avis Preston Ballinger, 82, passed away in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his wife and loving family, on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011. Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday in Mountain Valley Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Cory Smithee officiating. Interment: 9:45 a.m. Monday (Lane A) in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VITAS Hospice. Avis was born Sept. 6, 1929, in Bonita to Lee and Memmie Ballinger. He married Peggy Bonner on Aug. 3, 1956, in Fort Worth. He retired after 39 years with Lucent Technologies, previously AT&T. He served in Germany in the U.S. Army from 1950-1956 and was a Mason with the Tarrant County Lodge #942 for 57 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lee Roy, Clyde and Frank Ballinger; sisters-in-law, Louise and Lucille; and daughter-in-law, Connie Ballinger of San Saba. Special thanks to VITAS and the offices of Dr. Jason Ledbetter and Dr. Davenport. Survivors: Wife of 55 years, Peggy Ballinger; daughter, Gail Crawford and husband, Johnny; son, James David Ballinger of San Saba; grandchildren, Micah Yingst and husband, Mark, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Ballinger, U.S. Army, and wife, Kim, Leah Chapman-Hubbard and husband, Kelby, AJ Davis IV, Jaime Brown and husband, David, Mark Crawford and wife, Teena, Adam Crawford; great-grandchildren, Jacob Yingst, Troy Yingst, Kandice Glass and husband Dylan, Lance Cpl. Devin Hubbard, U.S. Marine Corps, Preston Chapman, Ethan Chapman, Kasey Hubbard, Christopher Brown, Jack Brown, Breanna Crawford, Trevor Crawford, Kayleigh Watson, Taten Swanson; sister-in-law, Billy Ballinger; and many nieces and nephews.