William C. Ballinger, Jr. Obituary (1937 - 2019)

William C. Ballinger, Jr. (Bill) went to rest with his Lord on Feb. 12, 2019. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 62 years Geraldine R. Ballinger (Gerry), his son William C. Ballinger III (Billy) and his wife Cindi. His grandchildren Heather, Keith & wife Tamara plus Cody. Great Grandchildren Max, Chance, Daisy, Bella and Oliver as well as his sister JoAnn Severance and her daughters Jackie and Shelley. Bill was born Aug. 7, 1937 to William Clyde and Ruth Ballinger in Lockland, Ohio. From a very young age Bill was in love with horses and the western lifestyle. He married his beloved wife Gerry on August 17, 1956. Their son Billy was born in 1959. Soon after Bill brought his family to start their lives in Arizona. Bill's life was full of amazing opportunities and adventures such as managing Lake Pleasant when it was still a Guest Ranch then moving to Wickenburg as Asst. Mgr. & later Ranch Manger of Remuda Guest Ranch for 3 seasons. After that he ran the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce for about 4 years changing it from a seasonal operation to one open year round. Between jobs he managed to help activities in town by joining the Wickenburg Saddle Club, serving as President and as Sr. Sponsor for the Jr. Saddle Club; becoming a member of the Sheriff's Posse; rode on 3 Desert Caballeros Trail Rides then served as their Administrative Asst. organizing the rides. Las Damas is grateful to him for the many years he came on their rides as a very efficient, helpful wrangler. When he got offered a job as a Ranger at Alamo Lake State Park, Bill packed up family including horses and moved about 85 miles out of town. The Park Manager position became his before long; it was 21 years (1979) before he retired from Alamo Lake and moved to Congress, AZ. Still a busy person, Bill was voted to the Congress Water District Board where he soon served as chairman. Both Bill and his wife Gerry became a part of the Congress Community Church. Helping erect the Congress Food Pantry Building was a project of Bill's and the Pantry has been a big help to many Congress residents. When his health began to fail in 2014, Bill and Gerry moved back into Wickenburg. Five years later Bill peacefully went to join his Lord. There will be a Celebration of Life Service for Bill at Congress Community Church February 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM. Friends may offer online condolences at wickenburgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory. Please send any donations to Congress Community Church, P.O. Box 203, Congress, AZ 85332.