Robert “Bob” Ballinger, 84, of Excelsior Springs passed away Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at home following a battle for three years and eight months with multiple myeloma cancer.

Bob was born on June 29, 1936, in Mill Grove, the son of Robert Carl Ballinger and Loraine Lowe Emke.

He was married to Barbara Patterson Ballinger on Nov. 24, 1957.

Bob served in the U.S. Army as a radar operator for Btry 8th Division Artillery APO 34.  After returning from the service, he worked for Nisbeth Chevrolet in Trenton, later moving to Excelsior Springs, where the couple raised their three sons.  He later opened his own body shop.

Bob was a member of the Masons, Shriners, Vets and Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Barbara; his three children, Gary Wayne of Lawson, and Jeff and Chris of Excelsior Springs; one grandchild, Valerie Ballinger of Dallas; two half-sisters, Lounetta (Richard) Payne of Warsaw and Marsha (Jim) Tillman of Lexington; Aunt Maxine of Gladstone; and a sister-in-law, Beverly (Vernon) Trump of Trenton.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gary C. Ballinger, and his wife, Jackie; and grandparents, Gussie and Ray Lowe, who took the boys at ages 9 and 11 to raise; and his other grandparents, Ida and Walter Ballinger.

A memorial visitation will be held 10-11 a.m., Friday, May 21, followed by the service at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Phone: 816-630-3131.