Obituary of Elisha Ballance

OCRACOKE, NC ELISHA EVERETT BALLANCE, 86, of Ocracoke, NC died Monday, June 7, 2004 at the Outer Banks Hospital, Nags Head, NC. Mr. Ballance, born in Ocracoke, served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1937 to 1957, traveling in the South Pacific, the North Atlantic, Australia and Cuba, and serving in both WWII and the Korean Conflict. He worked with the National Park Service from 1960 to 1976 and was also a fisherman. Mr. Ballance was a member of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church, serving several years as Sunday School Superintendent, and was past Master of the Ocracoke Masonic Lodge #747. He organized the first Fire Training Class for the Ocracoke Fire Dept. in 1966 and was an active member of the Ocracoke Civic Club. Mr. Ballance loved anything to do with being on the water, and prided himself in being completely independent of all electronic devices, including a hearing aide. Mr. Ballance was the son of the late Elisha and Emma Gaskins Ballance and was also preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mildred Amber Hardison Ballance. He was also preceded in death by a son, David Ballance, a sister, Elsie Garrish, two brothers, Henry Ballance and Lawrence Ballance. Mr. Ballance is survived by daughter, Lynette Waller and husband, Ray of Ocracoke; two sons, Reggie Ballance, Gene Ballance and wife, Cheryl, and a daughter-in-law, Sharon Hutcherson Ballance, all of Ocracoke; a sister, Lorena O’Neal and husband, Charlie of Ocracoke; two brothers, William Ballance of Nederland, TX and Maurice Ballance and wife, Maude Ellen of Ocracoke. Funeral services will be held at the Ocracoke United Methodist Church on Thursday, June10, 2004 at 2:00 pm with Rev. Charles Etheridge officiating. Burial will follow in the Ballance Family Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church on Wednesday afternoon. The family will receive friends at the church on Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 8:30pm. Twiford’s Island Chapel, Hatteras is assisting the family with arrangements.