Graveside Service, conducted by: Robert A. McMillen

Richard Edward Ballard was born on September 1, 1925 in Indianapolis and was reared in Marion, Indiana. He was inducted into the army after he graduated from high school and he was in the occupation and mop up phase of WWII. He received a WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal Germany. He served in the Air Force Reserves until February of 1950. Dick was given military honors in Vevay before he was brought to Indianapolis. Dick and Hazel met, fell in love, and were married at Fairview UMC on Sep. 30, 1949. Hazel and Dick were very loving, Christian, and caring people.They were blessed with daughters Lynn and Marsha and with their son, Jeffrey. How the family loved the campouts the family had when the children were growing up. Richard was good about building things and repairing things. The house was completed in 1957, and the family has many memories about growing up and later having family get-togethers there in the home place. Some of the neighbors wish they could be with us today. The neighbors and church friends loved Dick and Hazel. When Dick was young, he taught Sunday school. Down through the years, he was active in outreach, in helping the pantry and community outreach, and in helping with Summer Fare. He loved his church and church friends. Dick was loved so much by his children and their spouses, and by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren according to my count. Dick was loved by his family and he loved them. All of us are going to miss Dick. Please keep Hazel in your prayers and in your plans. Dick and Hazel shared nearly 71 years of marriage, and we became used to their being together. My wife and I do so much together that people think I can't handle anything by myself. Others would say that Carol needs to be with me or I will say things that she will disagree with. She is not here today. She sends her greetings and love, and she would tell you to feel free to make me behave. We are sorry that you have been restricted in terms of who can attend this service. I can tell you there are many who wish they could support you here today. Feel free to call on us.

Richard retired from Thompson Consumer Electronics RCA in Indianapolis in 1989 after working 17 years for them. Dick knew some people from work who are members of Old Bethel. Richard was good at woodworking and enjoyed making wood products. Camping and traveling with the family always appealed to him. He was an avid reader.

I am not going to give you a detailed description of Dick's decline since the end of January. His failing health brought him to death on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at Westminster Village North. We thank God for His mercy and His grace. We celebrate all the good things that Good allowed Richard to experience and share with you. Hazel blessed his life with good conversation, good food, and with music. And family and church were great blessings to Dick.

I have known Dick and Hazel for 30 years or more. I don't know one bad thing about either of them. Once I visited a man in prison who told me that he had never sinned. In the next day's paper, he was charged with over 40 misdemeanors and several felonies.

The best news is that Dick was prepared for life and death. He passed from this life peacefully, and we look forward to seeing him in Heaven. He loved God, loved Jesus, and was guided by the Holy Spirit. God helped him throughout his 94 years of life. He had a good and productive life. He had a winsome smile. Hazel was the love of his life, and what a wonderful life they had together. They cared for each other well. We thank Marsha, Lynn, and Jeff for all they did for Dick and Hazel, and for what they will continue to do. And we friends want to help, but we ask for your guidance.

Let me read you the 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. The first half of the Psalm says so much about guidance and about how to get help when we need it. If you were inside, I would have shared that.

But today I want to share about how God helps us when we go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Now, we might say, "I don't want to go down that road. I don't like it. Let's go another way. Well, my dear friends there are no roads that don't have the shadow of death over hanging them. And when you get near to 94 years of age, you have lost more friends to death than friends on Earth. Eventually, we must meet our maker. And I believe that it is merciful to go be with Jesus than to stay in a world so threatening as ours. I am not going to try to prove that we live in a world of turmoil, danger and death. I want to speak to you from where you are currently. God says to us: I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff protect me. And you prepare a table before us to feed us and strengthen us.

Notice, God goes with us. We are not alone. We don't have to defend ourselves all by ourselves. We may have feared God's rod and staff, but we soon learn that our enemies are the ones that better have some fear. If that wolf goes to attack us sheep, God pulls us to safety and defense, but he strikes those who would harm us. He feeds us. He protects us. And attends to our wounds. We sheep aren't so smart, but we have a good shepherd.

Note that our cups run over with drink. Goodness and mercy follow us. We end up dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. It is good to be a sheep with God being our Shepherd.

We now give Richard Ballard to God, remembering how Jesus gave Himself to the Father by saying. "Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." With St. Paul, Dick can say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

Let us pray: Lord, thank you for leading Dick heavenward. We celebrate his commencement to a home in your heaven. Forgive our sins, mistakes, and wandering. Bring us home, to faith, and to victory. Receive us all into your kingdom. And give us joy and direction as we try to follow you. Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Now and forever, Amen.

Private Entombment Services and full military rites will be conducted by Rev. Robert "Bob" McMillen in the Washington Park East Cemetery, 10612 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46229.