Obit of Ballard, Orin (b463) - Unknown County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 18 Aug 2004 Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ORIN BALLARD Published on December 24, 1999 The Santa Rosa Press Democratt Orin "Karnie" Ballard, a longtime clothing salesman for the Brothers Four stores in Sonoma County, died Sunday in Santa Rosa. He was 93. He was born in Indian Territory in what is now the state of Oklahoma. During the 1930s, he worked in Hollywood, rising from errand boy to film editor. His family said he was a natty and debonair dresser who was proud of his career in Hollywod's film industry and who enjoyed telling stories about movie stars. His brother, Don, recalled hearing the tale of a young actor who told Ballard that he had just been signed to a contract with Paramount Studios and that he now had the wherewithal to dress as well as Ballard. So Ballard went clothes shopping with the young actor, who later became famous as Ray Milland. Ballard was drafted into the Army to serve in World War II. Upon release from service, he went to work for a clothing store in San Francisco before settling in Sonoma County in about 1960. He worked as a salesman and a model for the Brothers Four stores in Santa Rosa and in Coddingtown for many years and was longtime friends with the stores' owners, Bob and Beth Salisbury. In addition to his brother and sister-in-law, Willa Ballard, both of Hemet, he also is survived by his longtime friend, Claudia Davis of Kenwood. At his request, no services were held. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html