Charles M Ballard – Obituary
Charles grew up in the northern Michigan town of Petoskey where he graduated from high school on December of 1942. On that same month he enlisted in the Army Air Corp pilot training program. After flight school he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned duty as a flight instructor. Later he became a pilot engineer on B29 bombers.
After military service, Charles went to school at Central Michigan College on the GI bill and graduated with a Mathematics degree with minors in History, Economics and Industrial Arts Drafting. On August 21, 1946, while still in college, he married the love of his life: Eileen Ruetz.
Charles started his business career in 1949 with the Riedel Lumber Company located in Marlette, Michigan; where he built panelized homes. In 1951 he cofounded Marlette Homes to manufacture mobile homes. It was a successful venture with operations in Michigan, Kansas and Georgia.
After leaving Marlette Homes, Charles started a mobile home operation called Capital Homes located in Avis, PA. While there, he developed the first modular home; built under the existing house codes for the state of New York. In the mid 1960s, after Capital Homes, he started a consultation business with various home manufacturers and in the late 60s assisted in the operations of a modular home plant in Florida. Later in 1970 he cofounded Haven Homes with operations located in Beech Creek, PA and Wingate, PA. Haven Homes became a successful business that designed and built custom homes which were sold throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. He retired from the operations at Haven Homes in 1986 but went on to set up a commercial modular operation in Fort Payne, Alabama.
As a young man Charles caddied at a golf course in Michigan and “caught the bug” for the game. He played golf from that young age and continued playing through his 90th year. He enjoyed teeing off with family and comparing scores. In his youth, he was also a Sea Scout and learned to sail; a sport he took up again in his later years in the Chesapeake Bay with Eileen, family and friends. Charles frequented Penn State Football games with the tailgate parties being an important part of the event.
Charles had unconditional love for his family; love was always present, even in discipline. He encouraged his children to be independent, to be caring people, to work hard and to treat others with respect. His children scattered across the country for jobs and family, but always came home, gathering once a year for a celebration of family. He would have moved heaven and earth for his family and will be missed dearly.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 310 W. Water St., Lock Haven with Rev. Father Joseph Orr officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Friends and family will be received at the Moriarty Funeral Home & Crematory, 112 E. Church St., Lock Haven on Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Charles’ name may be made to the Lock Haven Catholic School Endowment Fund, 311 W. Water St., Lock Haven, Pa 17745.
