Walter Ballinger

Walter S. Ballinger, 78, of Loveland, died of stroke complications April 18, 2014 at McKee Medical center. He was born July 21, 1935 on a farm near Johnstown, Colorado, to Walt and Anna Ballinger. He and his family moved to a farm located at Highway 402 and Highway 287 in Loveland in 1949. He graduated from Loveland High School named all state football tackle and had a football scholarship to ColoradoUniversity. He also attended Colorado State University in 1954-55. He married Shirley A. Dunning on January 16th, 1954 and was married to her for 49 years, until her death in 2003. Walt started his post office carrier in 1955 in Denver, Colorado and served the postal service for 31 years. He was a well respected wrestling referee for 23 years, a very active volunteer fireman in Loveland for 21 years and an Elks member for 50 years. He was preceded in death by his High School sweetheart Shirley, his youngest son Marty Ballinger, his youngest sister, Faye Depperschmidt, his father, mother and three siblings when they were very young. Walt is survived by his daughter Amy Bonner and her children Ben Bonner and Holly O'Briant. He is also survived by his son, Scott Ballinger and his sons Brycen Ballinger and Joshua Burmudez; a daughter-in-law Carrie Ballinger and her children Paige and Jackson Ballinger. Walt is survived also by his sister Sharon Teeples of Loveland and one aunt, Helen Lenhart of Westminster, Colorado. Viewing will be held at Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 23, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at 2:30 pm, Thursday, April 24th at First Christian Church with a reception following the burial services. Reverend Michael Stein will be officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Walt Ballinger memorial fund in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home with funds being designated to the Loveland Fire Museum.