Biography: George Spear Ballard, 86, of Little Rock, died Thursday, September 5, 2019, of complications from a stroke, with his daughters and wife by his side. He was born September 26, 1932, in Fort Smith, AR, the only child of George Deiser Ballard and Catherine Spear Ballard.

George attended schools in Fort Smith, graduating in 1950 from St. Anne’s High School.  In 1955 he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas, followed by two years of commissioned service with the US Army at Ft. Monmouth, NJ.

Returning to Arkansas in 1957, George joined Schlumberger, a worldwide oil field services provider, measuring and testing in the oil fields near El Dorado and Shreveport.

In 1958 George moved to Little Rock, where he became an engineer with Westinghouse, advancing his studies at the Graduate Institute of Technology. After earning his master's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation he joined GIT’s laser lab faculty, working on contracts with NASA. George later joined the faculty at UALR until his retirement in 2002. He earned his third degree, a BS in Computer Science, and served as Interim Chair of the Department of Computer Science. With his lifelong passion for music, he took advantage of academic pursuits in the Department of Music studying composition, theory, and piano.

Humble by nature, though published in the Journal of Applied Physics, George did not display his degrees or awards. They ended up at the back of the sock drawer. Instead, he made fake certificates, such as the RISS Award (Really Important Scientific Stuff) which he proudly hung on the wall.

Having an inquisitive heart and mind, George was a man who loved to tell funny stories and jokes. He had one for almost every occasion. It might come from his childhood, his life as a father and husband, or his many travels. He particularly loved a good pun. His puns were delivered with a twinkle in his eye while he waited for the inevitable groan from his listener. 

George loved travel, particularly by plane or train. His love of aviation led him to begin flight training 1970, earning numerous pilot ratings. He volunteered with the Arkansas Civil Air Patrol as Aerospace Education Director and flight crew member. At the age of 70, he piloted a vintage RAF Spitfire over Britain, performing a barrel roll over the White Cliffs of Dover. Train trips included one on which he operated a steam locomotive in Ely, NV. He amassed a collection of model trains, airplanes, prints and paintings of steam locomotives and vintage warplanes. 

He traveled the world visiting six continents. He particularly loved watching wildlife, including penguins in Antarctica, whales near Alaska, and the rich diversity of wildlife in Kenya. He didn’t have to travel to enjoy wildlife--he delighted in watching a variety of birds, squirrels, and deer in the yard.

George was quite an accomplished bridge player and enjoyed many good rounds and good times at The Bridge House. Two days before his sudden illness, he and bridge partner Jan Gauntt finished first, bidding and winning two slams during their regular Wednesday game. They said, “It may have been the best game we ever played! We came in at 63.28 percent. We rarely scored over 60 percent.”

George was pre-deceased by his parents and by his wife of 50 years, Freida Clark Ballard, with whom he raised three children. Freida died in 2005.

In 2010 George married Joan Williams Baldridge, who survives him. 

He is survived by his three children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His children and their spouses are:  Laura Ballard Trigg and David of Little Rock, Clark Ballard and Karen of Gadsden, AL, and Ann Ballard Bryan and Jim of Little Rock. His grandchildren and their spouses are Carrie Ballard Machen and Chris of Gadsden, AL, Matthew Ballard and Daisy of Chattanooga, TN, Blake Ballard and Keri of San Diego, Laura Bryan Curtner and Russ of Little Rock, Anna Trigg of Fayetteville, and Peter Trigg of Knoxville, TN. George’s great grandchildren are Dillon and Madelon Machen, Daevyn Smith, and Scarlett and Vander Ballard.

Additionally, he is survived by stepdaughter Ellen Baldridge Gregan, her husband Joseph and son Leif Gregan of Benton; and stepdaughter Margaret Baldridge Adams, her husband Laurence, and their children Genevieve and Stuart of Lake Oswego, OR.

Memorials may be made to The Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial, PO Box 56470 Little Rock, AR 72215 or Arkansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, 2201 Crisp Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202.

The family wants to acknowledge the incredible care provided by Dr. James Shuffield, the nurses in the SICU and CCU units of Baptist Hospital, and the caregivers of Shawnda’s Elderly Care.

A visitation is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Westriver Tower, 3500 Cedar Hill Road, 7 South, Little Rock. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral with a reception following in Morrison Hall. Arrangements are by Reubel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.