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Submitted: 12/29/15 • Approved: 12/29/15 • Last Updated: 4/13/18 • R781020-G0-S3
30 Oct 1928 - 11 Apr 1943
Parents:
James Hervey Ballentine (1888 - 1956)
Lillie Mae Mathis Ballentine (1898 - 1969)
The Steele Enterprise, Steele, Missouri
Thursday, April 15, 1943
The town was saddened Sunday by the sudden death of one of its young people, Leo Ballentine, age 14, Sunday morning, April 11, 1943. His death was caused by a blood clot which formed near the left mastoid, according to doctors. Leo loved athletics and had boxed with some of his friends at the school building Monday evening. It was reported he received a slight injury at the time which was not believed serious. Not wishing to cause his parents unnecessary worry, he did not complain of any discomfort to them until the latter part of the week. Friday and Saturday he merely said he thought he had a "crick" and didn't feel like getting out, but still was not very ill.
On Sunday morning, the seriousness of his condition was felt by his father and Mr. Ballentine left his home to secure an ambulance to take him to the hospital when death came instantly. Mrs. Ballentine had prepared a glass of grape juice and was bringing a sedative to him when the blood clot struck the brain, causing instant death.
Leo was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Ballentine, local city clerk and would have graduated from the eighth grade this year with another brother, Elmo. He was quite popular at school and his teacher spoke of him as a good student and as having a disposition that made friends for him among all of his classmates.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Methodist church with the Rev. Marvin Niblack conducting the service.
Pallbearers were Leo's classmates, Junior Horton, Delman Williams, Charles Ray, Carl Glover, Charles Lipscomb, Charles Burden, Lilbourn Morley and Johnnie Carter.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Ballentine, eight sisters: Mrs. Johnson Carlton, Mrs. Roy Nuttall, Joyce Laverne, Josephine, Bettie Sue, Shirley Ann and Delsie June, all of Steele; three brothers, Buck, Elmo and Jerry, and other relatives.
Interment was made in Holly Cemetery with German Undertaking Company in charge of arrangements.
Leo Ballentine, 14, son of Magistrate and Mrs. H. Ballentine of Steele, died at his home there Sunday afternoon from the rather unusual cause of injuries sustained in a boxing set-to as he was preparing to enter a boxing contest in the Steele school set for tonight (Friday). He was taking part in a "battle royal" with other contestants, a dispatch to the Blytheville Courier relates.
Death is presumed to have been the result of a blood clot on the brain and the lad did not at first appear to be seriously injured, as he was out and around the town for the day or so intervening between the time of his injury and his death.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Steele Methodist church and burial was in the Holly Grove cemetery near that city.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - Friday, April 16, 1943
Contributed on 12/29/15 by ttack37
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Record #: 781020