Obituary of Ronald Marion Ballog

Ronald Marion Ballog was born on August 2, 1931, in New Athens, Ohio, to Alma Wagner Ballog and Frank Herman Ballog. Growing up in southeastern Ohio, Ron was part of a mining and farming community with his older brother, Frank Jr., and his younger sister, Marlene. The family moved from New Athens, Ohio, to Flushing, Ohio, where Ron graduated from Flushing High School in 1948. 

Ron enlisted into the United States Marine Corps from 1951 – 1955 and was deployed to South Korea where he served in the Korean War Conflict.  During this time, he also had the opportunity to travel the world.  While serving in the Corps, he met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Cowen from Flushing. They married on February 26, 1955, and moved to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Ron was honorably discharged as First Lieutenant. Ron and Mary moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended trade school, then moved back to Flushing where they raised their three children, Nancy Alma, Timothy A., and Ronald William.

Throughout the years, Ron worked as the head electrician on a couple mega strip-mining shovels – the Gem of Egypt, and the Silver Spade. While building the Silver Spade, Ron was involved in an accident where he fell 25 feet off one of the decks. From this fall, he broke several bones in his body, including his back, which caused him a lifetime of suffering. In 1969, Ron took a recruiting job with the United Electronics Institute and moved his family to Stow, Ohio. Having success with the company, Ron and Mary were able to build their dream home in Stow. During the years that followed, Ron had several jobs before building his own pressure-washer business. Ron and Mary sold the business in 1987 when they moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, to be with their daughter, Nancy and her two daughters.

After Nancy and her family moved to Texas in 1993, Ron and Mary quickly followed, leaving Arizona in 1997, and moving to Keller, Texas, to be close to Tim and Nancy’s families. Ron enjoyed working various jobs and volunteering time at First Baptist Church of Keller where he was a beloved member. Ron served as the caretaker for Bourland Cemetery for many years. Ron was always one to build relationships among the people he met. He loved to give his brand of coffee and chocolate candies to any who visited his home. He enjoyed making yard art for anyone – whirly birds, “Jesus is the reason” signs for Christmas, and doorknockers. He was brokenhearted when Mary went to be with the Lord on July 19, 2020. He never fully recovered from her passing and missed her until the very end. 

He passed away on October 2, 2024, with his son, Tim, and daughter, Nancy, by his side. He is survived by his sister, Marlene Workley of Flushing, Ohio; his three children, Nancy Carr of Keller; Tim Ballog and his wife Katy of Fort Worth; Bill Ballog and his wife Debbie of Plymouth, Indiana; his seven grandchildren and their spouses; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and dear friends and church family at First Baptist Keller. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County or the Veterans Ministry at First Baptist Church of Keller