Obituary of Ruth Ballard

CAYCE, SC: Funeral services for Ruth Rathburn Ballard, 95, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2013, at State Street Baptist Church, Cayce, SC, officiated by Reverend Tommy Pillow. Interment will follow in Woodridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 until 3 p.m. prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to State Street Baptist Church, 1420 State Street, Cayce, SC 29033. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family. Mrs. Ballard, widow of Clayton L. Ballard, passed away Monday, February 11, 2013. Born in Burnsville, NC, she was a daughter of the late Vernie and Sam Rathburn. She was a member of State Street Baptist Church for more than 40 years. Mrs. Ballard worked in the Navy Shipyard during WWII, in Baltimore and Jacksonville. She was a volunteer with Helping Hands in Cayce. She was a member of the Hope Sunday School Class and the Eastern Star in Western North Carolina. Mrs. Ballard was also captain of basketball and track in the Cane River High School in North Carolina. Survivors include: daughter, Janet M. Phillip (James S. ) of Tullahoma, TN; son, Larry A. McClure (Beth M.) of Columbia, SC; sister, Margaret R. Ray (Tom) of Blacksburg, VA; brother, Earl Rathburn of Burnsville, NC; grandchildren, Kristi Seay, Brant Seay (Dylana), Elizabeth Gavlik (John), Kathryn McClure and Marsh McClure; great grandchildren, Trevan Seay, Heidi Seay and Claire Gavlik. Mrs. Ballard was preceded in death by 5 brothers and sisters. The family would like to give special thanks to Life Care Center, Tullahoma, TN.