Gerald Thomas Ballard, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family.   

Gerald was the second child of nine children born to Arthur and Mary Place Ballard, and was born on July 22,1926, in Oakdale, La. He attended church when Mount Hope was a small country church with services only two times a month and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior at an early age.  

When WWII broke out, Gerald was still attending Oakdale High School. He and two of his friends, Vernon Fogleman and Floyd Gordon, joined the Navy when they were only 17 years of age. He served on the USS Ottawa and sailed into Nagasaki Harbor after the city was hit by an atomic bomb. Following the end of the war in 1946, Gerald was discharged and returned to Oakdale.   

In July 1950, he joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War. After boot camp and specialty schooling, he married Jackie Young on Jan. 13, 1951.  

Following his four-year enlistment, Gerald and Jackie made their home in Cameron and Lake Charles, La. where they raised their four children. In 1970, the family moved back to Oakdale where Gerald opened and operated Purina Feed Store for several years. He later worked for the Allen Parish School Board as a bus driver and for the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.  

Gerald was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Mary Ballard; five brothers, Coleman, Curtis, Robert, A.D. , and infant Wilson Ballard.   

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Jackie Young Ballard; one son, Gerald “Tom” Ballard; three daughters, Rebecca Ballard, Kathleen Ballard, and Nancy Willis and her husband, Grant; two brothers, Olin Ballard and Tommy Ballard; one sister, Glenda Stewart; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.  

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Hope Baptist Church, 2557 Highway 372, Oakdale, LA with The Rev. Brian Johnson officiating.  A time of visitation will be held at Mt. Hope Baptist Church, on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at 9 a.m. until time of service. Interment will follow at Beaver Creek Cemetery, Beaver Creek, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale.  

Pallbearers honored to serve are: Steven Willis, Joey Willis, Blake Ballard, Alex Willis, Jackson Carlisle and Rylan Ballard. Honorary pallbearers will be Caden Willis, Will Seaman, Jeb Ballard, and Jonathan Willis  

Should friends desire in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or to the First Baptist Church WEE Center for children.   

The family would like to express their gratitude to the caretakers of Brighton Bridge Hospice for their loving care of Gerald.   

Friends may post online messages of condolence for the Ballard family by visiting www.rushfh.com.