Barbara Jean Ballinger

Barbara Ballinger, 88, of Malvern, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2013 at the Montgomery County Hospital. A Time of Gathering will be on Friday, September 13th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern.

As per Barb's request her body will be cremated following the Time of Gathering. Burial at a later date at the Malvern Cemetery.

Memorials: Malvern Public Library

Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Jean Ballinger, one of six children of Roland Warren and Noma Alice (Beetem) Schramm, was born August 6, 1925 at Courtland, Nebraska. Her family moved to Mound City, Missouri when Barbara was four years old and she attended country school in Holt County through the 8th grade. In 1941, her family moved to Malvern, Iowa, when her father "Doc" began work for Iowa Power & Light.

Barbara and Clifford Weldon Gustin were married at Rock Port, Missouri on October 18, 1942. They made their home in Hastings, Iowa, and in 1945 moved to Malvern, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with seven children, Carol, Nancy, Clifford, Jr., Edward, Barry, Jerry and Linda Jean.

Barbara and Wilbur Glen Ballinger were married on February 21, 1971 at the Malvern United Methodist Church. They made their home in Malvern and Glen continued to work for the railroad until his retirement in 1979. Barbara and Glen were married 33 years when Glen passed away on December 8, 2004 in Red Oak, Iowa.

Barbara enjoyed being a homemaker, sewing, flower gardening, vegetable gardening and canning, working crossword puzzles, and fishing. She loved spending time with family and friends.

Barbara passed away September 9, 2013 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa, at the age of 88 years, 1 month, and 3 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Glen Ballinger; infant daughter Linda Jean Gustin; son Eddie Gustin, step-daughter Wava Fitzwater; granddaughter Karen Duncan; great grandsons, Zachary, Dillon and Derrick Duncan; sister Aletha Martin; brothers, Harlan Schramm, Dale Schramm and Dean Schramm; brothers-in-law, Cecil Ballinger, Howard Ballinger, Harvey Ballinger, Harold Ballinger, and Clayton Ballinger; sisters-in-law, Nellie Evans, Ollie Walkins, and Olla Mae Lee; and first husband Clifford W. Gustin, who died Dec. 24, 1978.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Carolann ValVerde of Bellevue, NE and Nancy Negrete of Omaha, NE; sons, Clifford W. "Junior" Gustin and wife Linda of Council Bluffs, IA, Barry Gustin and wife Suzy of Glenwood, and Jerry Gustin of Omaha; 14 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; step-children, Ronald Ballinger Sr. and wife Barbara of Red Oak, IA, Janet Reisner of Dows, IA, and Bill Parson of Spokane, WA; sister Alice Salisbury of Red Oak; sister-in-law Daisy Hill of Nebraska City, NE; brother-in-law Leighton Ballinger of Blair, NE; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.