E. Imogene Ballentine

"Never said a bad word about or to anyone." She had an acceptance and celebration of others and her gift to them was her smile, her joy and her time. Imogene passed away on May 9, 2017 at the Houston home of her daughter at the age of 96. She was born August 14, 1920 in Apopka, FL to the late Kate Louella (Raulerson) of Apopka, FL and R. Meaken Moore of Antelope, TX. She spent all her school years in Eustis, FL and worked as a beautician in St. Petersburg, FL until her marriage to Ralph Edwin Ballentine in 1940. After WWII, they lived in Port Tampa City from 1945 until 1985 where they were involved in many church, school and social activities, including serving as Worthy Matron of the Port Tampa Chapter of Eastern Stars for the year 1953. She had worked for the Hillsborough Co. School Board as head Secretary for the Building & Grounds Dept. in Tampa FL from 1957 until her retirement in 1982. After the passing of Ralph in 1985 she moved to St. Petersburg and remained until 1995 when she moved to Dunedin, FL to be near two of her sisters. After their passing, in 2010 she moved to Houston, TX. She is preceded in passing by her husband Ralph, parents and siblings, Edith Carter (Troy) Snellville, GA; Elwin Moore (Gladys) Esley,SC; Alfreda Pipkin (Pip) Dunedin, FL; Clarence "Bit" Moore (Gladys) Woodbury TN; Opal E. Garrison (Jim) Dunedin, FL; and Meaken "Mickey" Moore Jr (Blanche) Orlando, FL; and granddaughter-in-law Jackie Ballentine (Robert) Orlando, FL; nephew Arnold Pipkin of Dunedin, FL. From St. Petersburg, FL: father-in-law John William Ballentine Sr.; mother-in-law, Wilma Louise Robinson Ballentine; sister-in-law Dorothy Louise Ballentine Robertson; brothers-in-law John William Ballentine Jr., and Allen Palmer Ballentine (Lucyle), from Atlantic Beach, FL. She is survived by her two devoted children: Dr. Ralph Edwin Ballentine II (Glenda Baker) from Longwood, FL and their children Ralph III, Robert and Rae Ellen Stewart and great grandchildren, Nick, Keylan, Sydney, Jake, Tristen; and daughter W. Catherine Wright (George) and their children Carla Barker (Rick), Lloyd (Jackie), Mikel (Srivipa), Kristen and great grandchildren, Kristen and Jacob, Liam and Colin, Jasmine, Phoebe and Fynn. Also, she is survived by sisters-in-law Gladys Scott Moore, Woodbury, TN; Blanche Carrington Moore, Orlando, FL; Lucyle Reynolds Ballentine, Atlantic Beach, FL and many special nephews and nieces in FL, OH, VA & GA. Thank you to the caring people from Houston, the Lee Sunday School class at Spring Woods United Methodist Church and Shea, Regina and Susan from the Hospice Plus family. Also to a special friend Edie Wheeler of St. Petersburg and the many friends who have kept in touch with her over the years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to her favorite charities, the Baptist Children's Home in Lakeland, FL or Samaritan's Purse. Imogene will be cremated in Houston and a graveside service will be held on August 14, 2017 at the Memorial Park Cemetery, 4900 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL.