Dr. Luther Daniel Ballance Jr.

Dr. Luther Daniel Ballance, Jr.

October 4, 1949 – April 27, 2015

Rocky Mount

Dr. Luther Daniel Ballance, Jr. passed away on Monday, April 27, 2015 after a courageous struggle with chronic progressive myofascial syndrome. He was the son of the late Luther Daniel Ballance and Isabelle Suiter Ballance.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Nancy Wiggins Ballance; son, Wesley Daniel Ballance and wife Emily of Rocky Mount; daughter, Anna Margaret Ballance and fiancé Alex Slotte from Uppsala, Sweden; and sister, Emily Mason Ballance of Raleigh, NC.

Dr. Ballance attended public schools in Rocky Mount and was a 1967 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society and served as secretary of the student body. In his youth, as a member of Boy Scout Troop 5, he earned the Eagle Scout award and God and Country award.

He was accepted to attend UNC-Chapel Hill and as an undergraduate, he finished with Phi Beta Kappa honors along with memberships in the Alpha Epsilon Delta premed-predental honor society and Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity. College summers were spent as an athletic counselor at Camp Sea Gull sponsored by the Raleigh Y.M.C.A.

“Doctor Dan” returned to his hometown and, following a year’s association with Dr. Jack Mullen, he established a private practice, which was his lifelong passion, until his retirement in 2012. During his career, he had the pleasure of taking care of a wonderful patient family. He especially enjoyed the distinction of treating a North Carolina Governor, Lieutenant Governor, an Attorney General, a member of the Senate, and a member of the House of Representatives. In 1992, he formed and later partnered with his son in a local DJ company.

He sang in the choir for many of his 50 years as a member of the First United Methodist Church. Over the years, he committed to civic service with the Rocky Mount Jaycees, Breakfast Optimist, Kiwanis Club, the local board of BB&T, Nash Technical Institute, the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce and Nash General Hospital. Involved with the youth, he coached Y.M.C.A. youth basketball for 15 years and contributed to Boy Scout Troop 5 from time to time.

Professionally, he maintained membership in the American Dental Association, a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, the Tar River Dental Study Club, and the North Carolina Dental Society, serving as its Editor and Vice-president. He also volunteered in the four area charity mission clinics held in Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Halifax Community College. In 2012, he received special recognition for his 15 years of service as the North Carolina’s district and state peer review chairman.

Recreationally, often with family members, he enjoyed boating, golf, CD collecting, membership in the Enfield Still Hunt Club, and dental photography.

In retirement, he busied himself with ancestry research, home beer brewing, keeping the bird feeder full, and “honey-do” jobs.

Deepest appreciation goes to Dr. Arnette Everett, Dr. Don Bales, nurse Susan Collier and other community health care providers for their compassionate care and expertise. Additional thanks to Whitener Capital Management, Standard Insurance, and Tom Rhodes, J.D. for their insurance and financial advice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be offered to First United Methodist Church, 100 S. Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 4, 2015 at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 100 South Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 with Rev. Jim Bell and Rev. Tyler Williams officating. Burial will follow the service at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be on Sunday, May 3, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

Arrangements are entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services. You may share your memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com