James Frank Ballinger

James Frank Ballinger, 83, of Baldwin City, Kansas died Friday, January 3, 2025 at Midland Care Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas.

He was born September 22, 1941 in a taxicab in Johnson County, Missouri; the adopted son of Earl R. and Georgia (Collins) Ballinger. He was part of the first graduating class of Shawnee Mission East High School in 1959. Jim was a part of the Acacia Fraternity at KU. He then went to Baker University and earned B.A. in May of 1964.

On July 26, 1964, Jim was united in marriage to Linda Ford at First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City, Kansas. They spent 60 loving years of marriage together.

While living in Kansas City, MO, Jim worked as an estimator for Kansas City Poster & Display Company. He was also a coach with the Raytown Girls Softball League between 1978 and 1995, until he moved to Baldwin City, KS.

He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Mic-O-Say tribe. He was a member of the Brush Creek & Western Railroad Club and then the Lawrence Model Railroad Club. Jim was a member of the Volunteer Hall of Fame at Theatre Lawrence, where he earned the Charley Award nine times. He was also a part of Baldwin City Community Theater and the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Georgia Ballinger, and a brother-in-law, Roy Kretzinger.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Ballinger of the home; two daughters, Heather Ballinger of Baldwin City, KS and Deena Winkeler and her husband, Jay, of St. Peters, MO; a sister, Suzy Kretzinger of Wichita, KS; a brother-in-law, Reverend Robert Ford of Baldwin City, KS; a brother-in-law, Bill Ford of Otis, OR; three grandchildren, Artemis Winkeler, Teegan Winkeler, and Quinn Winkeler, all of St. Peters, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 17, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City, KS. Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. To celebrate Jim’s life, a visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 704 Eighth St, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence Model Railroad Club, First United Methodist Church, or Theatre Lawrence and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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