William "Bill" Bryan Ballard Jr.

William Bryan Ballard, Jr., 82, of Jonesboro, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on July 12, 1943, in Jonesboro, to the late William Bryan Ballard, and Agnes (Menees) Ballard. Bill, as he was known to all, was raised in Union County and spent his childhood with his lifelong friend, Ron Knupp, with whom he shared a birthday. Their friendship was a bond that lasted a lifetime, and Bill's famous wit was on display even in the end, when he joked, "Great, this means Knupp is going to outlive me." A man of great intellect and an infectious zest for life, Bill was known for his wit and "crazy ideas" that often came to fruition. He enjoyed taking long drives in the country, traveling to many destinations, and spending time with his family and friends. Bill was a man of many talents, from acting in traveling plays and small parts like in Last of the Red Hot Lovers, to famously dribbling a basketball from Carbondale to Cape Girardeau just to prove a point. His best work, however, was done in the courtroom. An attorney who took great pride in the law and loved a challenge, Bill was a proud graduate of Iowa School of Law. He began his career at prestigious firms, including Richard Nixon's Law Firm and the firm in charge of the Indianapolis 500. He eventually returned to his beloved Southern Illinois to raise a family and practiced law there until his retirement in 2024. Bill's greatest joy was being a father and, above all, a proud "Papa." He is survived by his children, Joshua Ballard, Sarah (Brent) Sims, and Jamie (Matthew) Peters. His legacy lives on in his cherished grandchildren: Zane (Emily Gregge) DeWitt, Hannah (Nick) Proctor, Taeborn (Caleb Clover) DeWitt, Ian DeWitt, Heidi Ballard, Grady Ballard, Miles Ballard, Kylie (Christian Schaaf) Peters, Gunner Peters, Carter Sims and Cash Sims. Bill was also a very proud great-grandfather to Kade and Oliver DeWitt, and Monroe Proctor. He remained a genuine friend to his former wife, Sally Ballard, and was a special partner to Carol Carter. He was also an uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, William Bryan Ballard III; his sister, Betty Dunn; his nephews, Jerry and Steve Casper; and his niece, Betty Jo Boyd. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Interment will be in the Casper Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Memorial contributions are preferred to Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home to assist the family with expenses. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The Elks last rites funeral service will be at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Anna-Jonesboro Elks Lodge #1641, located at 427 East Jefferson, Anna, IL 62906. This is open to the public and everyone is invited to stay for food and fellowship.