Philip Ballinger Obituary

Col. Philip Robert Ballinger, (AF) Retired SUMTER - Philip Robert Ballinger, Col. (AF) Retired, beloved husband of Dorothy Ballinger and father of five children, died Friday, July 1, 2011 after a long illness. Born in Kerrville, Texas, he was a son of the late Lemuel Murray Ballinger and Ida Angeline Patten Ballinger. Mr. Ballinger was a WWII fighter pilot and prisoner of war, Air Force career officer, President and CEO of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, much-loved father, patriot, and golf enthusiast. He flew 36 missions in a P-47 in WWII bomber escort and ground attack missions in the European theater, was shot down over France, interrogated by the Gestapo, and spent thirteen months in German POW camp Stalag Luft III, site of the Great Escape. He was liberated by George Patton. His military service included Japan during the Korean War, Commander of an F-86 squadron, Air Staff and Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, Base Commander of the Phalsbourg, France Air Base and Headquarters of the European Security Region in Ramstein, Germany during the cold war, and Director of Personnel of the 9th A.F. at Shaw AFB. For his service, he received the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (Silver Cluster), and Bronze Star, among others. He received a BA in Business Management from the University of Maryland, and attended Air Command and Staff School. During his tenure with the Chamber of Commerce, Phil Ballinger's primary focus was on industrial development. He is credited with leading Sumter into the Industrial Age with the creation of over 8,500 new jobs, and recruitment of 58 Industries. He was a member of the State Development Board and served as Director of the Sumter County Development Board. In addition, he served on the Board of the Carolinas Association of the Chamber of Commerce Executives. He received, among other commendations, the Order of the Palmetto and the Professional Achievement Award from the SC Economic Development Association for his endeavors. He worked closely with many community and statewide officials in bringing new industries to the Sumter area. He also worked with members of the community to gather teams for this work, knowing it was the outstanding community members who would help sell the area to these industrial prospects. Despite the clear benefits of his leadership, he always insisted on acknowledging the team who made it all possible. As a father, Phil Ballinger was a kind, patient, fun, interesting, comforting, and funny person who loved his family and friends. He was a voracious reader. While living in Europe, he traveled with his family at every opportunity for a new adventure in an unexplored country or location. He had a passion and talent for helping people understand differing points of view, using humor and gentle persistence. He also had a soft heart for animals and adored his dogs. He loved a good joke, although the jokes he shared with his family were censored in comparison to the many he exchanged on the golf course. Phil Ballinger's primary passion in life was golf. He played with the same foursome every Saturday for at least 20 years, which he loved. He took every opportunity to travel to play on many of the country's and Scotland's best courses, and was thrilled with his score on the Old Course at St. Andrews, even getting approval from the old-timers there. When he was unable to obtain a reservation on Royal Troon, his golfing companions and he snuck onto the famous "Postage Stamp" hole. He self-published a vignette on golf, and wrote verse about it. Surviving are two daughters, Barbara A. Ballinger, M.D. of Redwood City, CA and Beverly K. Ballinger of Charleston; three sons, Philip R. Ballinger, Jr. and wife Denise of Austin, TX, Jerry M. Ballinger and wife Anna of Charleston, and David L. Ballinger and wife Jenny of Chapel Hill, NC; and three grandchildren, Allison, Adam, and Adriana. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Lucille McCauley Ballinger, and brothers Donald Ballinger, Paxton Ballinger, and Murray Ballinger. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 11 A.M. Wednesday at St. Anne Catholic Church, 216 East Liberty Street in Sumter, SC with Rev Thomas Burke, C.Ss.R. and Deacon Billy Ellis officiating. The family will receive friends at the church parish hall following the funeral service. Private internment will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Sumter. Memorials may be made to the Sumter S.P.C.A., 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of arrangements (803) 775-9386. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths