Richard Lloyd Ballard
Share
Visitation for Richard Lloyd Ballard, 72, Lawrence will be held 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Richard died on August 14, 2016 in Lawrence, KS.
He was born on April 3, 1944 in Ottawa, KS. He was the son of Lloyd Samuel Ballard and Velma Cecil Ryou.
He worked at Hallmark for 36 years as a warehouse supervisor. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, Jayhawk Model Masters, and Treasure of Clinton Lake Clean Up.
Richard married Wilma May McGraw on February 28, 1965 in Colony, Kansas. Survivors include two son, Bryan Ballard and wife, Amy, Bradly Ballard and wife Amber; four granddaughters, Trinity Donna May Ballard, Temperence Elenore Ballard, Paige Ballard, and Kaylee Ballard.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City and may be sent in care of the Mortuary.
At The High Road forum, we knew Richard as rcmodel. He was a very big part of THR community. We will surely miss his knowledge and sage wisdom.
My heartfelt condolence and prayers to Richards family and friends.
I have “known” Richard via the online firearms forum The High Road for several years. He was a fountain of knowledge and someone whose thoughts I always enjoyed reading. There, he was known as “RCModel”, but I will now remember him as Mr. Ballard. Please accept my personal condolences.
Deepest sympathy to the family of R C.
Richard and I were in the same division back in the 60’s but didnt know each other then only finding that out when we started talking on The High Road forum.
Over the years we talked often and our sign off was getting old beats the alternative.
He was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge on gun, knives and repairing most anything.
I will miss you my friend, R I P until we meet again.
Just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear of Rich’s passing. I never met him but being a member of THR website I knew him as RCModel and allowed me to correspond and read his vast knowledge of the shooting sports. He will be missed. God Bless and take care.
Scott
Like so many others, I have never met R.C. I spent the last 4 years or so being amazed and further educated by his vast knowledge. His passing is very surreal for me.
We live in a digital age where we often hear about folks who meet online or have online friendships. His passing is the first time in my life that I have experienced grief for the death of a friend who I have never met face to face. I never really understood that concept until now. He will be sorely missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to know him through THR.
I want to express my condolences to his family and thank them for sharing him with the thousands of us who only knew him as R.C.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Or all your primers in a glass jar!”
Another fella from the THR forum that Mr. Ballard was so active in. I just wanted to give his family and friends my utmost condolences and sympathy , I want you to know that I never met Mr. Ballard and indeed have never even been in the same state as him but that he has touched my life and many others through his knowledge and passion for his many talents. I will never forget his contributions to me or to our forum.
I am a member of TheHighRoad. The impact that Richard (RCModel) had on myself and others is overwhelming. He was always willing to help a total stranger, and to share his wisdom and guidance. He will be sorely missed. My prayers and condolences to his family.
The Set ’em up Jack’s family has been honored to serve Richard and Wilma over the past years. We are so blessed to have gotten to know him and saddened by his passing. He will surely be missed. Richard’s family is in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
I never met Richard face to face, in fact I did not know his real name until he passed on. I, like many others here knew him as rcmodel on The High Road discussion forum.
It is funny how you only see someone’s screen name but you feel like you know them. He was a steady voice of knowledge and was always willing to share his experiences and words of wisdom with the younger generation that was just getting started.
Over 59,000 times he did so and we are grateful for it.
We will miss his advice and his never ending witty responses.
I wish I could have met him.
rcmodel was Richard’s handle at TheHighRoad.com an internet firearm forum. I’ve hand the honor and pleasure of mining the wisdom and wit of Richard for nearly 15 years. He will be sorely missed by a great number of folks. Though I’d never met Richard face to face, I am part of a vast group of folks who knew him as a friend. Please accept my condolences to Richard’s family.
I only knew Richard online through his posts on the High Road Forum. I learned a lot from him. I considered him a friend even though we had never met. I will miss his knowledge and wit.
My deepest condolences to those who knew him best.
I exchanged messages with “RCModel” on the HighRoad forum. Richard Ballard had a vast amount of knowledge on an array of subjects and was always willing to help someone (like me) if they were stuck on a technical problem. He will be sorely missed.
May his family take comfort in the knowledge that he was highly respected and will never be forgotten on The High Road forum.
As with some of the others posting here, I knew Richard only through our contacts at the THR forum. And, as with the rest of us there, I was taught something by him about all things firearms. He made an indelible impression in my life, and I miss him.
My condolences to his family.
I too, knew Richard from thehighroad.org. I’ve been a member there for over fourteen years and can’t remember a member more helpful and influential. May his family find peace.
I knew him only from The High Road gun forum. He will be missed. What a wealth of info he had. I am thankful he shared this info. I know he had family issues going on and could not get out to partake as often as he would have liked. But there is nothing better then the love this man had for his wife. My condolences to his family. RIP my friend.
My most sincere condolences to his entire family. He will also be missed a great many people who he never met in person, but assisted with his wise words and knowledge via the internet
I have never met Richard in person but on The High Road forums. He shared his wisdom with others and has left a legacy few others can match. Be very proud of the knowledge he has been able to teach others. I was able to share a bit with Richard this past spring when I gifted him with some of our Indiana maple syrup, he surely enjoyed it, the least I could do for a true gentleman. Prayers and good wishes to all the family.
Richard (rcmodel on THR) was a tremendous source of information on many subjects. He was patient with posters and helped more people than can be counted during his time at THR. He will be sorely missed by many. We are diminished.
AC
I really hoped you would win this fight, buddy. You taught us so much over the years at THR. Going to miss our late night chats. You shouldered so much these last few years, and soldiered on. You were a strong man inside. Your old school, matter of fact, tell it like it is, pragmatic view on things was awesome. Such a rare trait among folks today.
Heartfelt condolences to family and friends. We lost one of the greats, here.
Fare well. You and your remarkable knowledge will be missed!
I also knew him from an Internet forum thehighroad.org. He was a great source of both firearms knowledge and about life in general and I know I learned a lot from him. RIP.
The number of us who knew Richard as “RCModel” and genuinely cared for and respected him should be a testament to his character. He educated so many of us and gave guidance on countless projects and theories that his knowledge and willingness to share is what many of us remember best about him.
Thanks to the family for lending him to us for so long.
Richard was a mentor to so many that it’s hard to appreciate. I wonder if he even knew how many people he helped in so many positive ways. Guns, reloading, hunting, and anything in between. The man was a fountain of knowledge and it flowed freely to anyone that asked or needed it. The community he touched will close ranks and move on, but we will never forget, nor will we ever replace “rcmodel”. God speed
Richard, I am so sorry. We were really getting to be such good friends. You definitely are a wealth of knowledge on so many things. After we were both retired, it was nice to look out and see your friendly face and just visit. You did your best by Wilma. Now, your family will continue to do the same. They are all good people. I will miss you my friend.
I knew Richard when we were activated for duty to Vietnam. He was a good solider and could rely on him to complete any duty assigned to him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Wilma, Bryan and Bradley. I have known this family for 20+ years. I went to school with Brad from k-12 and worked with Mrs. Wilma at Hallmark. Real nice family. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ballard family.
Wilma, we are so sorry for your loss, he will be greatly missed. I really enjoyed working with you and Richard at Hallmark’s. Shirley and I enjoyed sharing a table with both of you at the 25 year dinners in KC. Miss all these times we shared. Gene and Shirley
I’ve know Richard/rc for 15 years. I treasure the custom knives he made for me and our many conversations. A real gentleman and good friend. Blue skies and happy trails Richard. R.I.P.
My sincerest condolences to your family.
Mr. Richard, Thank you for being the best neighbor to my mom. You & Wilma will forever hold a special place in our hearts. You will be missed.
Nena Johnson- Caro & family
Richard Ballard’s presence was not limited to the U.S.
Condolences to the family from South Africa. I followed Richard’s wisdom from many miles away and am grateful to have known him electronically at least. It must have been wonderful to have known him in person.
Strength to the family.
Kind regards
Andrew
Richard was a truly kind and wonderful person to interact with. I gained an immense amount of knowledge and wisdom from him, and periodically corresponded with him via the web . My sincere condolences go out to his family.
Know that through Richards interactions over the web, he touched, and brightened the lives of literally thousands of people. He will be missed for his good cheer, his vast knowledge, and his ever present good humor.
We are all diminished without him.