Larry "Lafe" Ballard

Lafe LaVerne "Larry" Ballard died June 10, 2011, at Taylor House Hospice, after a 7-month battle with cancer. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street.

He was born Jan. 25, 1937, in Lorimor, Iowa, and graduated from Des Moines Technical High School. He served in the Iowa Air National Guard and helped construct America's earliest nuclear defense system in the North Atlantic. Larry retired in 1997 from Betts Cadillac. He was a car collector and restoration buff, who took special pride in his award-winning 1932 Chevrolet Confederate Special Sedan. Larry loved his family, enjoyed auto racing, looked forward to a good filet on the grill, and tolerated his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.

He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Jeanette; sons Tom (Deanna) and Larry (Staci); grandaughter Tyanne (Rocky) Collier; great-grandson Makai; and little buddy Ace. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Lafayette and Edith; his brother Leonard; and a grandaughter, Jennifer. He will be eternally loved and missed.

Memorial contributions can be directed to Taylor House Hospice or the John Stoddard Cancer Center, both in Des Moines.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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