Royce D. Ballard

Royce D. Ballard   Royce D. Ballard, 92, of Loves Park, formerly of Rockford and Belvidere, went to be with the Lord on February 16, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. at Rockford Memorial Hospital.  Royce was born February 3, 1917 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Galen and Alice (Goff) Ballard.      When Royce was young, the family moved to Belvidere where he attended school. Royce married Leone M. Casey in Texas on March 14, 1967.  He was a US Army Veteran of WW II, serving in Europe, North Africa, Sicily and France with the 20th Engineers and was the recipient of the Purple Heart.  Royce worked as a maintenance man for many years for Hi-Rises in DeKalb County and Rockford, retiring from Skyrise Apartments in 1979.  He was devoted to Crystal Cathedral of the Air and never failed to hear Dr. Schuller each Sunday.   Royce is survived by his step-sons, Ramon (Beth) Snyder of Mississippi and Terry (Brenda) Snyder of Loves Park; grandchildren, Gail, Tammi, Karla, Cris, Janet, Thomas, and Leanna; nieces, Doris Rollins, Mary Alvis, Lorraine (Clyde) Wells and Alice (Vere) Hart; many great-grandchildren and dearest friends, Carol and Louie Owens and Karen Culver.  Royce was predeceased by his parents; his wife Leone (Jan. 15, 2002 two brothers and four sisters.   Services for Royce will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rockford Rescue Mission Center, 715 W. State St., Rockford, IL 61102.  Arrangements were handled through Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford, IL 61103. Family and friends may extend condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfuneralhome.com.