Obituaries

Esther Gene Ballinger, 78, of Independence, Kentucky, passed away on Friday, September 25, 2026. She was born to the late Milton Stevens Jr. and Ruth Gene Fisk Stevens.

Esther/Essie/Essie Gene was born in Covington, KY, and attended Holmes High School. She was a member of St. Mark United Church of Christ in Latonia.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wayne Ballinger, who passed away in 2023. Together, they shared 57 wonderful years of marriage, building a life centered around love, giving, laughter, family and cherished memories.

Esther's greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend, who took an active role in the lives of those she loved. When her children were young, she could always be found supporting them, whether through her involvement at Latonia Elementary, Holmes High School, Covington City Council PTAs, sports, church activities, and being a dedicated band parent/booster during Lisa and Kelly’s years in The Holmes High School Band. She and Wayne, became second family, to many of Lisa and Kelly’s friends, especially, the band kids. That same love and dedication continued with her grandchildren, whose activities included karate, band, academic team, gymnastics, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, cheer, taekwondo, dance, choir, and, theatre. Those grandchildren, and, subsequently, all of their friends, knew her as “Maw.”

Esther had a gift for making everyone feel welcome in her home. She loved to cook and bake, and her family especially enjoyed her homemade sweet breads for the holidays, and, her great grandmother Esther Fisk’s recipe for chicken and dumplings… that generationally were only served for Thanksgiving. She was a wonderful hostess who enjoyed entertaining and opening her home for family gatherings, celebrations and parties. She also found happiness in the simple pleasures of life, especially gardening, working in her yard, cherished family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains, making her home beautiful, and spending time with her beloved animals, particularly dogs and cats.

Esther was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wayne Ballinger, and her parents, Milton Stevens Jr., and Ruth Gene Fisk Stevens.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Gene Ballinger Johnson; son, Kelly (Jennifer) Ballinger; brother, Wayne (Kelly) Stevens; and sister, Sherry (Mark) Jahnke. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Andrew (Brittany) Ballinger, Aric (Cristi) Johnson, Tyler Ballinger, Alisha Gene (Eric) Sievers, Carly (Logan) Hickey and Cassidy Ballinger-Boone; and three great-grandchildren, Caleb Ballinger, Ezra Hickey and Eden Hickey.

Above all, Esther will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her welcoming home and the countless memories she created with those she loved. Her legacy of love will live on through her family and all who were blessed to know her.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Chambers and Grubbs, 8461 Dixie Hwy, Florence KY 41042 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 12:30 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Family invites all who can, to join them after burial, for fellowship and memories of Esther, at St. Mark UCC, 224 East 38th Street, Latonia, Ky 41015