 1932 - 2012 (79 years)
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| Name |
Ima Rae BALLARD |
| Born |
22 Mar 1932 |
Pettit, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
21 Jan 2012 |
Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas |
| Buried |
Altus City Cemetery, Altus, Jackson Co., Oklahoma |
| Person ID |
I1966 |
Main Tree |
| Last Modified |
2 May 2024 |
| Father |
Charles BALLARD, b. 21 Apr 1908, Cookson, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma , d. 13 Aug 1953, near Shamrock, Wheeler Co., Texas (Age 45 years) |
| Mother |
Etta Pearl TERRELL, b. 5 Mar 1905, Pettit, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory , d. 3 Mar 1998, Altus, Jackson Co., Oklahoma (Age 92 years) |
| Married |
26 Mar 1929 |
Greenleaf, Cherokee Co., Oklahoma |
| Family ID |
F1388 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
John D. “J.D.” POLING, b. 23 Oct 1919, Arlie, Childress Co., Texas , d. 8 Mar 2004, Altus, Jackson Co., Oklahoma (Age 84 years) |
| Married |
21 Sep 1951 |
Childress, Childress Co., Texas |
| Last Modified |
2 May 2024 |
| Family ID |
F1392 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
-
| Notes |
- Ima Poling resided at Altus, Oklahoma in 1998.
Helping the Hungry
By Rose Fischer, special to the Times
J.D. Poling served his country in two wars, fed Altus' homeless in the family's restaurant and reared six children who loved him and respected their mother.
LaDonna Aubrey of Fort Worth, Texas, and her children, Lisa, April and J.D., memorialized her dad, J.D. Poling, on March 8 -- the first anniversary of his death -- with a contribution to the Altus Centennial Memorial Center.
The 1,800-square-foot center with gardens, walkways and fountains--Altus' project for the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Celebration--will cover 1.6 acres in the Altus City Cemetery. The $275,000 building will contain seating for 70 people, a family gathering room and a small serving area.
As a Fort Worth real estate broker, Aubrey owns Personal Touch Realty Inc. and J.A.L. Enterprise, a construction and building company. She plans a second donation from her company and challenges real estate brokers in the Altus area to also contribute. To donate to the Altus Centennial Memorial Center, call City Hall at 481-2202.
The Daniel Poling family traveled by covered wagon in 1890 from Virginia to Arlie, Texas, in Childress County. Living in a half dugout, they reared four children, including James Poling (LaDonna Aubrey's grandfather).
James Poling married Luttie (Powell) Poling in 1910. The couple farmed 480 acres of land near Arlie, where they lived until they died. The six children of the marriage were Noni, Ted, Billy, Dillion, Eldon and J.D. (LaDonna Aubrey's father), born Oct. 23, 1919.
According to J.D. Poling's wife, Ima, "J.D.'s grandfather would walk back and forth and work out property; and then what money he could save, he bought property. After J.D.'s father was born, he followed in his father's footsteps and bought up property. He kept buying and buying and ended up with 480 acres, which back then was just a huge amount of property."
J.D. Poling served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War and received several medals.
"He rescued all of his troops in the Korean War and was awarded five battle stars," LaDonna Aubrey said. "He also arrived in Pearl Harbor the day after the (World War II) attack. He was one who helped fish the soldiers out of the water, cleaned them up and sent them home to their families."
While serving in the military in 1951, J.D. Poling met and married Ima Ballard in Childress, Texas. In 1957, J.D. and Ima moved to Altus, where they reared six children: Sharon, Karen, Geary, Danny, Peggy and LaDonna (the youngest)--all Altus High School graduates.
The Polings opened the downtown Ima's Family Restaurant, and J.D. Poling also worked as a civil service employee at Altus Air Force Base and ran an AMOCO service station.
Aubrey recalled the day her dad died, one year ago. "Several people came up to us at the funeral home that we had never met, but Daddy had. Everybody had a story about Daddy; some were funny and some were sad," Aubrey said.
"Several people that were homeless would come up and tell us how Daddy would feed them or give them $5 for food. When mother had Ima's Family Restaurant, Daddy and I would open it up; and we'd feed everybody that was homeless. Before Mom would get there, we'd be out of sausage and everything."
The Polings' daughter, Sharon, followed in her parents' footsteps and currently owns Eddie's Cafe on North Main; some of the grandchildren recently opened Alvin's on North Main.
Aubrey said her dad was very loving as a father, grandfather and great grandfather; he taught his children to respect their mother and each other.
"He never met anyone that he did not try to make as a friend. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, a wonderful man. He was the most caring and patriotic person that any of us has known, and he loved to joke around with all of us kids," Aubrey said. "Daddy and Mother gave all their children value."
According to Aubrey, "Daddy's favorite quote before he died was, 'I have no enemies; I outlived all of them.'"
The Altus Times, Altus, Oklahoma, March 15, 2005.
- Ima Poling
Altus Times
Ima Poling, 79, passed away, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Ft. Worth, Texas. Funeral services were scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ with Charles Davis officiating. Burial was to follow in the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home.
Ima Rae Ballard was born on March 21, 1932 to Charlie and Etta (Terrel) Ballard in Pettit. She graduated from the Cherokee Indian School in Pettit. She married J D Poling on Sept. 21, 1951 in Childress, Texas. She was a restaurant owner and operator for many years; including Ima’s Family Restaurant and the Elk’s Golf and Country Club Restaurant. She was a member of the Tamarack Road Church of Christ. Ima enjoyed cooking, visiting with friends and traveling. She especially looked forward to the family reunions every year in Altus.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a sister, Francis Johns, and five brothers, Carl, Ed, Sam, Howard and Tuxie Ballard.
She is survived by four daughters, Sharon Clendennen and husband, Eddie, of Altus, Karen Newell and husband, Johnny, of Springer, Peggy Mullen and husband, Gary, of Zionsville, IN, and LaDonna Aubrey and Jim Wiley of Ft. Worth, Texas; two sons, Geary Poling and wife, Sue, of Lawton,and Danny Poling and wife, Judy, of Watauga, TX; 15 grandchildren, Tina Kendall and husband, Mike, of Altus, Thomas Clendennen of Oklahoma City, Eddie Ray Clendennen and wife, Kaleigh, of Altus, Jeff Harris and wife, Kristy, of Springer,Jason Newell and wife, Valerie, of Stillwater, Kara and Shelby Poling, both of Lawton, Joseph Gray and wife, Amber, of Newark, TX, Danny Poling, Jr. and wife, Katherine, of Norman, Michelle Poling of Ft. Worth, TX, Derik Savage and girlfriend, Cristina, of Indianapolis, IN, Lisa Tyler and husband, David, of Ft. Worth, TX, April Schauer of Colorado Springs, CO, and J.D. and Heather Aubrey, both of Ft. Worth, TX; two sisters, Kate Horton and husband, Ed, of Borger, TX, and Faye Dill and husband, Clint, of Springer, OK; and several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
The Poling family will greet friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kincannon Funeral Home.
Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com
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