Roger Cochran Ballantyne
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Laconia, NH---Roger Cochran Ballantyne, 65, a longtime resident of Laconia, passed away after a lengthy battle with kidney cancer, on Friday, August 29 at home with his loving family.

He was born on July 20, 1943 in East Liverpool, Ohio to the late Robert and Harriette (Cochran) Ballantyne.

Upon graduating from Greenbriar Military School in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, Roger served the country in the United States Marine Corps from 1962-1968, including Marine Security Duty at the American Embassy in Poland and Belgium. He achieved the rank of E-5. He was also presented a Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Medal for his service.

He received a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University.

He continued his service as a teacher and mentor to everyone he encountered, including 30 years at the Laconia Academy where he made a difference in the lives of his students, many of whom were young adults who dropped out of school and who were returning to school as adults.

He devoted many years in service to the community including as a member of the Laconia School Board and as an active member of Laconia Kiwanis Club for the past thirty-three years serving as president in 1986 and Kiwanian of the Year in 1983.

He served as a member of the Lakes Region General Hospital board of trustees starting in 1993. In 1998, he served as secretary of the Board; from 1999-2000 he served as Vice Chair; and in 2001 and 2002, Roger served as Chairman of the Board. He also was active as a volunteer for the Laconia Police Department's Crime Line program.

He was also very proud of his professional career as Vice President in Human Resources at Citizen Bank for 28 years. After "retiring" in 1998, Roger worked as Human Resource Director at the Taylor Community.

His wife and family were his number one priority. He also enjoyed trips on his motorcycle and spending time in Maine with family and friends. Anyone who knew Roger, knew his love and passion for life, laughter, family and friends.

Roger is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Thompson) Ballantyne; four children and their spouses, Lisa and Louis Alden of Parttville, Alabama; Blaine and Jill Ballantyne of Tomah, Wisconsin; Matthew and Heather Roy of Miami Beach, Florida; and Andrea and Peter Cravenho of Taunton, Massachusetts; and one grandson, Cord Ballantyne. He is also survived by two brothers and their wives, Blaine and Brooke Ballantyne of Cary, North Carolina and Robert and Patricia Ballantyne of Belmont; his uncle and aunt, Richard and Gretchen Cochran, of Bethel Park, Penn. and other family members in the Bethel Park area and his mother-in-law, Doris Thompson, of Sanford, Maine.

Visiting hours will be in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia on Monday, September 1 from 5:00 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington Street, Lakeport on Tuesday, September 2 at 10 a.m. Roger will be laid to his final rest at Notre Dame Cemetery, Springvale, Maine at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the following organizations: Kidney Cancer Association; 1988 Momentum Place, Chicago, Illinois 60689 www.kidneycancer.org; Community Health and Hospice, Inc. 780 North Main Street, Laconia, N.H. 03246, the Lakes Region General Hospital, 80 Highland Street, Laconia, N.H. 03246 or the Taylor Home Community 435 Union Avenue, Laconia, N.H. 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is in charge of the arrangements.