William Dillard Ballew Sr.

Asheville - William Dillard Ballew, Sr., 86, of 47 Bellevue Rd. died Monday, October 13, 2003 at his residence. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was a member of Arden Missionary Baptist Church where he was a member of the Mens Bible Class. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WW II, was a retired Foreman with Asheville Steel with 35 1/2 years of service, and was a volunteer at Manna Food Bank. Mr. Ballew was the son of the late Stephen Wheeler Ballew and Connie Mae Lindsay Ballew. He was also preceded in death by 2 sisters, Elizabeth Ducker and Frances Fortner and 4 brothers, Jack, Paul, Fred and Earl Ballew. Surviving are his wife, Virtie Verdell Mashburn Ballew of the home; daughters, Martha Mae Huffman and husband James of Asheville, Mary Ann Fortner and husband Loy of Asheville; Kathleen Rice and husband Benjamin of Swannanoa, and Louise Bradley and husband Mitchell of Asheville; sons, Stephen Wheeler Ballew and wife Betty and Dillard Ballew and wife Julie, all of Asheville; sisters, Geneva Ballew and Eva Mae Hunter, both of Weaverville; 20 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Thursday in the Anders-Rice Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jimmy Taylor, Douglas Ballew, and Bud Marler officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.