Ballard "Curly" Eldridge, 73, of Moline, died Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at UnityPoint Health – Trinity, Rock Island.  A memorial service will be Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 1:30 pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Avenue, Rock Island.  The service will also be live-streamed by visiting www.wheelanpressly.com/live-stream.  Visitation will be from 12:30 – 1:30 pm Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made in care of the family.

Ballard was born in Harlan County, Kentucky on March 10, 1948, a son of LeeRoy and Cora Lee Thomas Eldridge.  Ballard's family moved from Harlan County to Laural County when he was very young.  During Ballard's teen years he worked at a saw mill in Kentucky.  He came to Illinois in 1967 at the age of 18 to look for work.  He lived with one of his sisters until he married Deborah A. Parr on June 29, 1968.

Ballard worked for Hart Schaffner Marx.  He became the union steward until moving back to Kentucky in 1974.  During that time, he and two of his brothers worked construction.  Ballard and Debby moved back from Kentucky in 1976 and he again worked for Hart Schaffner Marx.

In about 1986 Ballard and Deborah bought a Peter Built Semi.  He went on the road working for Shields Aluminum with Doug Smith as his partner.  They drove for about a year but Ballard didn't' like being gone so much.  Doug continued to drive but Ballard went to work for Grinnel Fire Prevention Sprinkler Service until starting his own business in 2003 – Traco Sprinkler.  Ballard sold the business in 2014.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 53 years, Debby Parr Eldridge, Moline; son, Cody (Brittany) Eldridge, of Taylor Ridge; brothers, Ralph, Jim and Mike, all of Kentucky; sisters, Lois and Sherry, both of Illinois and Mary Lou, Donna and Barbara, all of Kentucky; grandchildren, Dakota and Aydan, both of Texas, Natalie, Izzabella, and Landon, all of Taylor Ridge; several nieces and nephews; and three great-great nieces and one great-great nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Travis Eldridge, brothers, Raymond and Jerry, sister, Cindy and a great-great nephew, Gabrial Mumma.

Online condolences, memories and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com