Richard Wayne “Ricky” Ballance, Jr., 26, of Maple, NC died tragically in a boating accident in Currituck County. Born in Pasquotank, he was the son of Patricia White Ballance and the late Richard Wayne Ballance, Sr. and was the husband of Jennifer Parks Ballance. He worked for Lee Electrical Construction and was the owner of Cape Lookout Lures. He was a member of Sandy Creek Fishing Club in Louisburg, NC, the NC BASS Federation State Team, the NC Junior Simmental Beef Cattle Association, the NC State Bass Pack Club and the Nags Head Surf Fishing Club. He was a former member of the 4-H of Camden County and graduated from Northeastern High School where he played on the tennis team and later graduated from North Carolina State University Agriculture Institute.
Other survivors include his sister, Tori Russell and husband, Tommy and their children, Lainie, Tommy and McKenzie of Wilmington, NC; maternal grandparents, Donald R. “Tootsie” and Shirley White of Nixonton and paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Ballance of Maple; special family friend, Ken Winslow; and many more aunts, uncles and cousins who treasured him dearly. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandfather, Olie Ballance.
A memorial service will take place Friday, January 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Fountain of Life, 1107 Highway 17 South, Elizabeth City, NC with the Rev. Wayne Wood and Pastor Hans Hess officiating. Burial will be in West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening at Twiford Memorial Chapel from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., following the service at the church and at other times at the residence. Memorial donations may be made to the Ricky Ballance Fund, Wesley United Methodist Church, 152 Alder Branch Rd., Shiloh, NC 27974. Twiford Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is assisting the Ballance family. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.twifordfh.com.