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Submitted: 8/30/22 • Approved: 8/30/22 • Last Updated: 9/2/22 • R1445393-G0-S3
November 25, 1930 - July 23, 2017
Wallace D. Ballentine, 86, celebrated his homecoming on Sunday, July 23, 2017, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born in Sims, Ark., on Nov. 25, 1930, to Elah Stephenson Ballentine and Hal David Ballentine.
He and his family moved to Hot Springs in 1939 when he began his newspaper career, selling the Hot Springs New Era on the streets of the resort city. During a brief time in Mineral Wells, Texas, when his mother and stepfather traveled with the service, he even delivered newspapers on horseback.
His family returned to Hot Springs, where he became a route carrier at the age of 15, developing a love for the business. He later aspired to a career in newspaper management, working his way up to route supervisor, account executive, retail advertising manager and advertising director with The Sentinel-Record. He became the newspaper’s general manager in 1970, a position he held until his retirement in 2001, culminating in 55 years of service with the hometown newspaper.
The Arkansas Press Association honored him in 1999 with the Golden 50 Service Award for his contributions to “the newspaper industry, the people, and the State of Arkansas.” Former Garland County Judge Larry Williams proclaimed Jan. 23, 2001, as Wallace D. Ballentine Day. The proclamation recognized his “continued service, not only in circulation, advertising, and publishing of The Sentinel-Record, but to the City of Hot Springs and Garland County, Arkansas, and provided our residents a glimpse of leadership that was admired by his peers throughout the state.” The proclamation also stated, “thanks to the talents, insights and leadership of Wallace D. Ballentine, The Sentinel-Record became a positive force which always strived for the betterment of our community.”
A longtime community leader, he joined the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club in 1966. He became a 75th anniversary Paul Harris Fellow in 1991 and was given Honorary Rotarian status when he retired from the newspaper. He also served on the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the National Park Community College Board of Trustees and as 2004 chairman of the Garland County United Way campaign.
He and his wife, Darlene, were also founding members of Hot Springs Baptist Church.
He was predeceased by his mother and his only son, David Todd Ballentine, whom he loved very much.
His survivors include his wife of 63 years, Darlene Bearden Ballentine, who truly was the love of his life; two daughters, Valerie Kuykendall (Davis), of Charlotte, N.C., Kim Poole, (Larry), of Royal, Ark. One daughter-in-law, Leslie Ballentine-Kerst (Bill), of Hot Springs, Ark; one half brother, David Trifon (Brenda), of The Woodlands, Texas; eight grandchildren, Davis Kuykendall Jr. (Lauren), Shannon Kuykendall, Kate Kuykendall, Angie Boiles, Karah Poole, Amanda Poole, Shelby Ballentine-Goodling (Shayn), Emily Ballentine; and one great-grandchild, Beau Poole.
The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Muldoon and the Genesis Cancer Center staff; Arkansas Hospice, Stacey Philyaw, and the staff and caregivers of Home Care Assistance, including Ron Lennox, whose comforting presence was a gift to the family in Wally’s final days.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home with services to be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home chapel.
Contributed on 8/30/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1445393