Dr. Reid Peter Langford Ballenger

Dr. Reid "Peter" Langford Ballenger died at home on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023, at the age of 92. He was a beloved husband, father, friend, and physician. Peter was born at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 13, 1931, to Roy Langford Ballenger and Xalissa Harris Ballenger.

Peter attended Pentecost Garrison School in Memphis, followed by The Stony Brook School in New York, and later, The Lawrenceville School and Culver Military Academy. He completed his high school education at Christian Brothers College in 1950.

Peter briefly attended Vanderbilt University but then enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served four years as a security analyst during the Korean War. He completed cryptography school and was responsible for analyzing Soviet air traffic in North Korea and the Russian Far East, eventually becoming supervisor over the traffic analysis of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Peter combined his undergraduate and medical studies at University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, graduating in 1962. He interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and completed his residency at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis.

Affectionately known as "Stork" by his colleagues, Peter decided to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology because he thought of it as a "happy specialty" and wanted to share in the happiness of welcoming his patients' children into the world. He practiced medicine for 55 years and delivered thousands of babies in the Mid-South. Known for his kindness and compassion, Peter prioritized the doctor-patient relationship and taking time to listen to his patients.

Peter often said, "Whatever you do, do your best to be the best at what you do." Always on the cutting edge of technology, he traveled to Kiel, Germany, in 1986 and 1988 to train in pelviscopy under Dr. Kurt Semm, a pioneer in laparoscopic surgery. Peter returned to Memphis excited to share laparoscopy with his colleagues and was awarded the Gustav Adolph Michaelis Award from the University of Kiel in recognition of his service in introducing surgeons in Memphis to laparoscopy.

Peter was past president of the Memphis and Shelby County OB/GYN Society, the Tennessee OB/GYN Society, and the Medical Staff of Methodist Hospitals of Memphis. As Chairman of the OB/GYN Department in 1980, he facilitated the practice of allowing fathers in the delivery room during childbirth. He also led the initiative to add a labor and delivery department to Methodist North.

He served on the Board of Directors of Methodist Hospitals from 1983-1990, and as Chief of Staff from 1987-1990. During his tenure, he urged the Board to purchase the Germantown Community Hospital and expand it to include a labor and delivery department. This became the Methodist LeBonheur Germantown Hospital. In 2006, Peter received the Living Award from the Methodist Health Care Foundation for his leadership and commitment to the healing mission of Methodist.

Peter joined Memphis Obstetrics and Gynecological Association (MOGA) in 1999. He was described by his MOGA colleagues as a legendary surgeon, and even though he eventually became the oldest doctor in the group, they often looked to him to help troubleshoot their computers. Peter described his years at MOGA as "extra special." He retired in 2019 at 87 years of age.

Peter was an associate professor with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine for over 35 years, teaching residents surgical procedures while performing surgery. He was one of the first doctors in Memphis to volunteer at Church Health, and he performed hundreds of surgeries free of charge during his 30 years of service. Peter also actively recruited other doctors to volunteer. He received the Jefferson Award in 2006 for his work with Church Health.

As a member of Independent Presbyterian Church, Peter traveled to Mexico on medical mission trips, providing free services to women who did not have access to high-quality medical care.

Peter loved airplanes from a young age and was an instrument-rated pilot. He gave generously of his time and often flew pastors and missionaries to meetings and conferences around the country. He set two airplane speed records, one between Memphis and St. Louis in 1969.

Peter was a skilled golfer and hit a hole-in-one twice on Hole 16 at the Memphis Country Club, first in 1986, and again in 1991 during a Young Life golf tournament, when a Lexus automobile was offered as a prize for a hole-in-one on that hole. He drove the Lexus with its HOLIN1 license plate for over 25 years.

He also was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed combining exotic woods to make boxes, tables, and salmon boards. His specialty in the kitchen was salmon on a plank, and he was the family chef until the day before his recent hospitalization.

Peter loved animals and was a past president of the Memphis Humane Society and the Tennessee Humane Society, and a founder of the Animal Protection Association (later renamed Spay Memphis). He found great humor in the fact that the only time he performed CPR was on his family's Great Dane, Wolf, after a heart attack. Wolf was revived, and Peter used his woodworking skills to construct an IV pole to administer the medications recommended by both his veterinarian and his cardiologist friends. Peter and his family once welcomed 30 rescue ducks for a week in their hot tub. Always the cheerleader for his daughters' interests, Peter also was a member of the Nashoba Carriage Association and the Germantown Charity Horse Show Association.

Peter enjoyed spending time with his family in the mountains of Tennessee at the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, and he loved skiing in the mountains of Colorado. He was an avid fly fisherman and spent many weekends with friends and family at the Rockbridge Rainbow Trout & Game Ranch.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janet Bond Ballenger. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Maury Ballenger; his two daughters, Fontaine Maury Ballenger and Brooke Bond Ballenger of Memphis; and his nieces, Shari Egan of Chester Springs, PA, and Suzan Egan Fluke of Wilmington, NC.

Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery at 9:30 am on Saturday, December 9. A celebration of Peter's life will be held at 11 am on December 9 at Independent Presbyterian Church, 4738 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorials in Peter's memory may be sent to Church Health (churchhealth.org) in honor of his commitment to provide excellent medical care to Memphians facing economic and social challenges.