Evan Ballard
My warrior husband Evan, age 76, started his next adventure without me as he passed into Eternity on December 28, 2020. He was a resident of Los Alamos for 47 years, but was born and raised in southern Utah. He attended Utah State University where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked at the Hanford Nuclear Facility for five years and obtained his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering along with his Professional Engineering license before moving to Los Alamos to work at LANL. Evan enjoyed his 32 years of employment at LANL before retiring in 2005.
Early on, Evan developed an intense love of the outdoors which lasted his entire life. Our last camping trip was 14 weeks before he passed. Over the years he enjoyed salmon fishing, bow hunting, rifle hunting, golfing, snow skiing, water skiing and scuba diving. He worked as a volunteer on Pajarito Mountain and served a term as the president of the Los Alamos Ski Club in 1979-1980. He met his future wife, Ellen Vandergust, while water skiing at Abiquiu reservoir. We enjoyed an active outdoor life for more than 40 years, snow and water skiing, horseback riding, four-wheel driving and camping in Canyonlands, Lake Powell, other areas in Utah’s red rock country and National Parks and Monuments. We were blessed with a permit to hike Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) in May 2019. Our world travels included a 20-day tent-camping trip through Botswana’s National Parks. At age 58, Evan discovered scuba diving. We completed 700 dives around the world with Evan’s favorite being a live-aboard trip in Papua New Guinea. Thank You, LORD, for keeping us safe all these years in all those remote places.
When at home, Evan was an active gardener, home canner and chef. When I met Evan my entire cooking repertoire consisted of mashed potatoes and baked potatoes. Evan taught me the joys of creative cooking.
We spent our marriage continuing to water ski and snow ski until Evan was 71 years old. We enjoyed our two horses and a total of 12 Pomeranians. We were “Mom and Dad” to seven Pomeranians at one time. One of our original Poms, Shadow, stole Evan’s heart. As many of you remember, Shadow ran a tight ship both at home and at the dental office.
Evan is survived by his wife of 31 years, Ellen Vandergust Ballard, his daughter Christine Ballard and her mother Dorothy, brother John, sister Marsha (spouse Sy), half-brother Brian (spouse, Kaye), as well as a large extended family.
Ellen has entrusted Evan’s care to Rivera Family Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place. Interment of Evan’s ashes will occur at a future date with a family-only graveside service.
The Ballard family and Ellen in particular wish to express gratitude to the Ambulance Crew and ER staff who saved Evan’s life on December 10, 2020 and to the ICU staff and Respiratory Therapists who kept Evan alive and allowed his discharge on December 15. Our sincere thanks also to Dr. Church, Dr. Rowberry, Dr. Fiorica, Dr. Green, Dr. Linnebur and the Anesthesiology staff of LAMC for their care of Evan during his stay at LAMC before his discharge.
Friends of Evan and Ellen are encouraged to post comments on the Rivera Family Funeral Home website at riverafamilyfuneralhome.com.
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About |
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| Name | Evan Orien Ballard |
| Date of Death | December 28th, 2020 |
| Home Town | Los Alamos, NM, US |
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Memorial |
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| Funeral Home | Rivera Family Funeral Home - Los Alamos | |
| Address |
1627 A Central Avenue Los Alamos NM 87544 United States |
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published a tribute .
Ellen, we were saddened to hear of the loss of your dear husband Evan. May the Lord bless his Memory and grant you and your families comfort and hope through this time.
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore," Rev 21.4
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published a tribute .
Dear Ellen - So very sorry to hear about your husband. He sounds like a fine man. We miss seeing you and wish you all the best in these difficult times. Our sincere condolences on your loss. Bob and Cheryl
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published a tribute .
Dear Dr. Ballard,
I send my deep sympathies for the loss of your husband. You are in my prayers.
Sincerely, Cindy
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published a tribute .
Dear Ellen, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
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published a tribute .
I worked with Evan for several years at LANL designing and successfully building a unique and important piece of equipment. Evan was great to work with and was always professional, creative, enthusiastic, and thorough. I particularly enjoyed our time travelling together to Hanford, Rocky Flats, Oak Ridge, and Savannah River in support of the project. Rest in peace Evan.
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published a tribute .
Dear Ellen-
I am sadden to hear about the loss of your wonderful husband. My mom and I were reminiscing about our time in Los Alamos and then my experiences with the Vandergust family! What heart warming memories.
Please take care of yourself and love to your family,
Sara Anderson
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published a tribute .
Ellen,
Dotty and I are sad for your loss. I knew Evan well from skiing and Pajarito Mountain. We'd skied together there and also in Utah. He was a member of the tree cutting crew and President of the Ski Club as was I once. Take care in these strange COVID-19 times.
With love, Doug and Dotty Reilly, 148 Monte Rey South
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published a tribute .
Ellen, we are so sad for your loss, but also for ours. We will remember all the good meals we had together and the fun we had over the holidays. Nor will we forget the cold mornings we would stand in line to be first on the ski-lift on a powdery day. We are so glad for all the good times we could share with him.
Our thoughts are with you. With love, Dave and Corry
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published a tribute .
We are sorry to hear of your loss, Ellen. May God be with you and comfort you. We also miss visiting your dental office and are grateful for all the years of care you gave to our family. We loved seeing your pomeranian dogs as well. Take care!
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published a tribute .
Ellen,
Just read of Evan's passing. I am sorry for your loss of your adventure buddy for all these years. I pray he came to know the source of Life before his death so he will join you some day in eternity.
Thoughts and prayers are with you, Ellen.
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published a tribute .
Rest in peace Evan. I often think about the times we worked together and hold fond memories from knowing you.
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published a tribute .
Ellen, I doubt this will do justice to the story of how much you and Evan have both impacted my life here in LA. He was a mentor, friend and reassuring figure in my early life of fulfilling my dream job here. I came here alone like an impetuous youngster. No family, no connections, fresh out of school, laser geek to the max. Wow, was I in a world I didn't understand. It was Evan and company that welcomed me, guided me and off I went. Years later and with a career that was successful beyond my wildest dreams, I treasure those that pointed me in the right direction at exactly the right times. You rescued me late one Sunday night many, many years ago when I blew a tooth out stupidly breaking concrete with a sledge hammer and had to go on travel the next morning. Becoming your patient subsequently, talking about yours and Evans exploits, loving the Poms in the office (I remember Shadow, he was a bit skittish with me haha), your strong faith in the Lord, then remembering the business troubles and how much I hated loosing your whole environment. On a personal level, it hurt way more than I can tell you in writing.
You've both hugely impacted my life at different times in different ways and I want you to know.
My heart to yours.
Paul
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published a tribute .
Ellen, I am so sorry to hear of Evan's passing. What a wonderful tribute you've written to a wonderful man and life together. His spirit will live on in you and those he loved. My love to you.
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published a tribute .
I loved hearing about all the adventures that both of you experienced together. Evan lived a full life and will be missed. I am thankful for the time you spent with us in Ivins Utah and hearing Evan tell us about his formative years in this area. Wishing you peace and comfort during this difficult time. Roger and Lorilee
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published a tribute .
Dear Ellen, we are very sad to hear that Evan passed away. We have great memories of you and Evan while we lived in Los Alamos. We enjoyed the skiing at Pajarito and the water skiing and wind surfing at Abiquiu all much more when we had such good friends as you to share it with. We did so many fun things together, but there is one trip that stands out. Like that ski trip to Alta we did and we got put in the basement of the lodge while that avalanche crews were out blasting? We were really crammed into a small space with all the other guests back when odor-retention fabrics were in vogue. It was breathtaking, but the entire time you managed to study for an Organic Chemistry final. At least the skiing was excellent when they let us out and we could breathe again.
There were many other fond memories, but in closing, please accept our sincere condolences. We loved Evan and will miss him badly. Mike and Charlene
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Thank you, Ellen, for trusting us with your beloved husband. It has been an honor to be part of the beginning of his next adventure. His life story is one that will please the heavens! You have done a beautiful job honoring him. Wishing you peace and comfort- Tim, Theresa, Gabriel, and Amber.
published a comment .
Dear, dear Ellen, we are so very sorry to read of Evan's passing. It has been a while since we've been in touch with you, just wanted you to know we are thinking of you during this sad time. Our sympathies to the family. With love, Jim & Carole Lehmann, Rio Rancho, NM.
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published a tribute .
Ellen, I am so sorry to hear of Evan's passing. I always enjoyed the stories of your travels and the videos of your scuba adventures. What wonderful memories you are blessed with. Please take care. You are in my heart.
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