Salley – Dr. Richard “Dick” Osborne Ballew, 82, died on May 16, 2016 following an extended illness.
Dr. Ballew is survived by Nancy, his beloved wife of 56 years, their son Richard Martin Ballew and his wife Helen Minnich Ballew of Poolesville, MD and their daughter Angela Kathryn Clifton and her husband Paul Kenneth Clifton II of Salisbury, NC; four grandchildren Daniel William Ballew and Michael Philip Ballew of Poolesville, MD and Sarah Esther Clifton and Emma Anne Clifton of Salisbury, NC.
Dr. Ballew was born on April 22, 1934 in Little Rock, AR to the late Shuford Osborne and Tommie Katherine Cobb Ballew. He was an Eagle Scout and attended the University of Tennessee, where he received his Medical Doctorate degree. He served in the US Public Health Service from 1958-60 in SC and later in private medical practice in Watertown, TN and Huntsville, AL. He returned to SC in 1968, where he worked for the SC DHEC as a clinical physician, medical director, and tuberculosis (TB) consultant before retiring in 2000. He continued working part-time as a TB consultant until 2015. Dr. Ballew contributed immensely to the state's TB control efforts. During his tenure, the state saw a reduction from 600 TB cases per year to about 100 per year. His contribution to this successful story were immense and were especially recognized by specialists in the world of TB control.
In addition to his public health service, he was also active in his community and church. He served for over 10 years as the Cardinal Newman High School football team physician. In his church, he served for many years in lay leadership, as a certified lay speaker, and as a Sunday School teacher.
He will be remembered as a caring physician, loving husband, father and grandfather.
The family wishes to express their gratitude all of the staff of Palmetto Health Baptist in Columbia, SC for their loving care and support during Dr. Ballew's illness. In particular, we give thanks for the love and support of Dr. David Tribble and Dr. Ben Tribble and their staff over many years.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Friday in the chapel of Blizzard Funeral Home 163 Main Street South, Wagener, SC 29164. The Funeral Service will be held 3 pm Saturday at Andrew Chapel UMC, 210 Andrew Chapel Rd, Swansea SC.
