With immense sorrow and bittersweet gratitude, the Ballard family announces the passing of beloved father, brother, and friend, Curtis Lloyd Ballard.

Born on a military base to James Henry Curtis and Barbara Lloyd Ballard, Curtis was the eldest of their four children. The family settled in Amarillo, Texas, where he found community in the Boy Scouts and in friendships that lasted a lifetime. Additionally, Curtis always looked forward to hunting trips with his father that inevitably ended in cozy hotel stays. He found work in paper routes, restaurants, and a movie theater where he worked his way up to a managerial role and took pride in the exciting relationships he was able to forge there.

Curtis was always interested in science—favoring lab kits and dynamite over toy cars as a child—leading to his attending the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Alabama in Huntsville in pursuit of an engineering degree. With that, he began work at NASA, serving on projects involving the Space Station, shuttle analysis, and telescope design. He continued his enthusiasm for aerospace at the Missile Defense Agency on Redstone Arsenal. Curtis spoke very passionately about his position and coworkers and is fondly remembered by his peers. Curtis met Janet Vena in Huntsville in 1995, and they were married the following year. They welcomed their baby girl, Victoria Grace, into the world in 2006. She is a freshman at Auburn University with the intention of attending law school.

He is survived by his daughter, Victoria; former wife, Janet; siblings, Richard, David, and Mary; nieces and a nephew; and an extended family. He is preceded by his parents, who will welcome him into Heaven.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the ALS Association.

A mass funeral service will be held on Monday, September 30th, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Spirit Catholic Chuch. Burial will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens.

Berryhill Funeral Home assisted the family.