Margaret Virginia Kelly Ballard passed away February 11, 2023 at her home in Richland, WA with her husband and daughter by her side. Virginia was born to Francis (Fannie) Connor Kelly and James Hutton Kelly on November 4, 1927 in Charleston, WV.

Virginia lived in Charleston and Morgantown, WV through her early teens. Her father, James (Jim) Kelly, worked for DuPont in Charleston, was transferred to the Manhattan Project soon after it was formed, and he arrived in Richland January 3, 1944. The family joined him on March 13, 1944. Virginia was a junior and attended the old Richland High School, located in what is now the downtown area, Students were soon transferred to the new Columbia High (now Richland High). She graduated in 1945 as a Richland High “Beaver.” Virginia attended Eastern Washington College in Cheney, and after depleting her savings, went to work for General Electric on the Hanford project. She worked there for 11 years before starting a family. She was the secretary for several of the top managers of the 200W area on the Hanford Site. After raising their two children, Virginia returned to the business world in 1979 working for Exxon, Exxon Nuclear, Advanced Nuclear Fuels, and retired from Siemens, as a highly respected executive secretary on March 30, 1992, and what a grand retirement party she received.

Virginia was working for GE in 1952 when she met Delbert (Del) Ballard at a YWCA Supper Club dinner. They were married on August 15, 1953 in the original Central United Protestant Church. They have been members of Central for approximately 70 years and experienced over 69 years of happy marriage. After retirement, Virginia and Del enjoyed numerous cruises and trips overseas, including the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Europe, and Australia. Several of those trips were with close friends Carma and Harvey Ragan. Other numerous routine travel was to Montana (Del’s home state) and California to visit family members. Virginia and Del played bridge in many groups over the years, where lifelong friendships were established.

Her joy in life was serving others. Virginia was a room mother at Jefferson Elementary School, a Girl Scout leader, a Hospitality Chairman at Central, active in Central’s Women’s Group, and after retiring from Siemens joined Kadlec Auxiliary as a volunteer for over twenty years. There she accumulated over 5000 hours of work in the hospital records department. Virginia was a member of P.E.O. Chapter FK Richland for 23 years, an organization that supports women to advance their education through scholarships.

After retiring, Virginia seriously took up quilting. This was her one passion. The quilts were machine pieced but most were hand quilted. She made queen-size quilts for her son, daughter, and grandsons, and crib quilts for many of her grand nieces and nephews.

Virginia leaves her beloved husband Del and daughter Diane Ballard Hansen (husband Jeff), West Richland; two grandsons, Kyle Kahler (Katherine), their sons, Kaden Kahler and Kameron Kahler of West Richland; grandson Jason Kahler (wife Arial), Phoenix, their sons Bentley and Oliver; sister-in-law Sue Kelly, Bellevue, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Bruce Ballard, brother, Scott Kelly, sister-in-law Fern Kelly, brother Edger Kelly; sister Patricia Kelly Schuette and brother-in-law John Schuette.

A Public Viewing will be held February 23, 2023 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at Events at Sunset Garden

Virginia’s Celebration of Life will be held February 24, 2023 from 2:00pm-3:00pm at Events at Sunset Garden followed by a Graveside service.

Memorials may be made to Central Church, Chapter FK, P.E.O., Washington State University TC Ballard Scholarship, or to the charity of your choice.