Thomas Henry Ballard

Thomas Henry Ballard, age 82, of Versailles, Mo passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at the Good Shepherd Care Center in Versailles.

He was born July 3, 1935 in Red Oak, Iowa, a son of Mervin D. Ballard and Dorothy E. Anderson Ballard. On July 4, 1958, Tom was united in marriage to Carolyn J. Falk of Stanton, Iowa.  Carolyn survives at their Versailles  home.

Tom was a graduate of Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Iowa.      He enrolled in the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, earning a BS in Biology and a varsity letter in Track and Field.  After graduation, Tom served his country as a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy for five years.  Most of his service was flying helicopters from an icebreaker in Antarctica.  During his time in the Navy, Tom and Carolyn  started their family, having daughter Rebecca and son Timothy.

With his young family in tow, Tom next received his Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine degree from Lincoln College in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Following graduation from Lincoln, the Ballard family relocated to Williamsburg, Iowa to begin Tom’s Chiropractic career.  For more than 30 years he served the Amana, Iowa area at the Chiropractic Clinic which he founded.  Over these years he helped countless patients with medical issues using chiropractic and acupuncture treatments.  Following retirement, he and Carolyn relocated to  Versailles, MO.

Throughout his life, Tom was active in his community and enjoyed sports and many outdoor activities including camping, bow hunting, fishing, biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.   Friendly and thoughtful, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

In addition to his wife of 59 years, he is survived by a daughter and her family; Rebecca J. Ballard and Tony Gambino of Gravois Mills, Mo.;  grandchildren, Angela Gambino and Melissa Osborne of Chicago;  and Tony  Gambino II  of  Albuquerque, New Mexico;  great grandchildren,  Mallorie, Michael, Talen, and Olive.

Tom’s son and his family, Timothy and Leslie Ballard and grandchildren, Nathan H. and Sarah K. Ballard all of Portland, Oregon;

Tom’s sister and her family, Judith and Peter VanBramer and their children, Wendy Van Bramer of Thailand and Dennis  VanBramer of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. ,

Tom’s brother and his family, Dennis and Rita Ballard of Sturgeon, Mo and their children, Thomas Mark Ballard of Columbia, Mo; Carey Ballard of Ridgeway, Co and Michael Scott Ballard of Gainesville, Ga;

Private graveside services will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, Iowa.

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