Obituary of Paul-A. Ballard

ROXBURY, N.Y. Paul A. Ballard, 73, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, N.Y. Born in Roxbury on April 24, 1929, he was the son of Merwin Ballard and Alma DeForth. Mr. Ballard graduated from Roxbury Central School and served in the U.S. Army. He married Barbara Green on October 7, 1978 in Roxbury. He was a well-known beekeeper, having taken over the family business, Ballard's Honey, from his father in 1960. He was a member of the American Beekeeper Association and the Empire State Beekeepers Association, receiving the Beekeeper of the Year Award for N.Y.S. in 1988. Survivors include his wife and best friend of 24 years, Barbara Ballard of Roxbury; five sons, Charles J. Ballard of Valatie, N.Y., James R. and wife Marene Ballard of Syracuse, N.Y., Joseph P. Ballard of Great Barrington, Bill Hamil and son Michael, and John Hamil, all of Roxbury; a daughter, Dawn Hamil of Roxbury and her children, Samantha and Nicholas, the shining stars in the life of their beloved Poppy; grandchildren, Nichole and husband Zac, Tamara, Charlyssa, Ryan, Allyson and Tyler Ballard, Renee, Danny, Krista, Jonathon and Laura Ballard, Candy and husband Mark McCarty, Dana and husband Pete Sherman, Carey and Amanda Kraft, Bobbi Jo and Garry Daury; eight great-grandchildren; and mother-in-law, Marie Green of Roxbury. Funeral services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Roxbury, Pastors Charles Gockel, Jerry Meyers and James Ballard officiating. Interment, Roxbury Cemetery. Calling hours 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Miller Funeral Home, Roxbury. If desired, donations can be made to the Roxbury Christmas Fund Project, Roxbury, N.Y.