Charlene Ballinger

Charlene Ballinger, 75, Bolivar, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 1, 2011 at Citizens Memorial Hospital. The daughter of Fred and Ruby (Jump) Choate, she was born on the family farm near Bolivar on March 29, 1936. She and Lee Edward Ballinger were married on June 6, 1953 and to this union were born three children; Shirley, Rita, and Jerry. Charlene was a 1953 graduate of Bolivar High School, and enjoyed meeting monthly for dinner with her former classmates. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and employed for many years at Teters Floral Products. She loved having her children & grandchildren over every Sunday for a big, loud, family lunch: and any friend of the family knew they could show up on any given Sunday and be welcomed with food, fun, and family, no questions asked. She opened her arms, her home, and her heart to everyone she met. A woman of many different interests, she enjoyed reading, watching movies and WWE wrestling, going to the local races, collecting snowmen, and so much more. She also loved to sit out on her back deck surrounded by her beautiful flowers. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Surviving are her three children, Shirley Taylor and her husband Steve, Rita Clay and her husband Donnie and Jerry Ballinger, all of Bolivar; 9 grandchildren, Robert, Michele, Stephanie, Tyler, Misty, Tim, Jonathan, Ashley and Jayden; 8 great-grandchildren, Amberlee, Evan, Alexis, Hannah, Olivia, Darren, Shaya and Autumn; 2 sisters, Darlene Dinwiddie, Bolivar and Peggy Wells, Clever; 1 brother, John Butch Choate, Bolivar; numerous nieces and nephews, and many special friends. She was known as Mom or Grandma or Granny to a multitude of family friends. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday, July 8, 2011 at Murray Funeral Home, Bolivar. With Bro. Randy Pearson officiating. Pallbearers will be Jeff Lockman, Mike Lockman, Tom Campbell, Travis Evans, Steven Price, and Rex Heidemann. Honorary pallbearers are Stacy Hall and Dan Harris. Interment will follow in Slagle Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. PDF Printable Version

Charlene Ballinger

March 29, 1936 - July 1, 2011