Roll Call Tribute

Royce Eugene Ballinger 

February 21, 1942 - November 20, 2023 

Royce Eugene Ballinger, 81, passed away the night of November 20th, 2023, in his home of Marana, AZ after a very sudden decline in health during his ongoing battle with kidney cancer. He passed with his loving children by his side.

Royce was born to Royce E. and Luceil Evelyn Ballinger in a car on the way to the hospital on February 21, 1942, in Burkburnett, Texas. Royce moved around a lot since his father was a teacher in community sponsored schools in north Texas. When Royce was seven years old (1949) the family settled in an oil field camp of fourteen family homes associated with a gas plant where Royce’s father was the lab chemist. Royce described in his autobiography that the camp was an urban oasis surrounded by cedar and mesquite trees on the Edwards Plateau near Ozona, Texas. School was an early start on the bus, 28 miles each way. Reta, his sister, was eight years his senior, and his brother, Martis, was five years his junior. Lacking television and having only moderate radio reception, Royce developed a “self-starter” approach to life. He and the neighborhood kids built forts, made bike paths and roamed miles of ranch land in central Texas. Royce's parents loved to square dance, where Royce and his brother often accompanied them and sometimes even danced. Royce always fancied himself to be a pretty good two-step dancer and he had his parents to thank for it.

Royce grew up in a household that not only supported getting a higher education but expected it and he did not disappoint. He received a BA from the University of Texas in 1964, a MS from Texas Tech University in 1967 and a PhD from Texas A&M University in 1971, all in the field of biology. He started his academic career at Angelo State University in 1971 as an assistant professor and later was promoted to associate professor. In 1976 he became an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and in 1982 he became a full professor and the Director of Biological Sciences at UNL. From 2000 to 2005 he was assistant executive vice president and assistant provost. Royce had an extraordinarily prolific academic career which included authoring some 150 technical research publications, authoring books, co-authoring books, authoring book chapters, guest lecturing, as well as being a prominent member of such organizations as Ecological Society of America, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Sigma Xi and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Even in his retirement Royce co-authored a book, “Amphibians and Reptiles of Nebraska” and authored two others, “Natural History of the Ironwood Forest National Monument: A Sonoran Desert Primer” and "Remembrances and Reflections: Sketches of an Autobiography." Royce loved to teach, most especially the work he did with his doctoral students that he advised in the PhD program. He kept close contact with them over the years, long after his retirement, holding dear the friendships that they formed.

Royce was the father of two wonderful children, Bevra and Ryan, who he had with his first wife, Linda Lindsey while living in San Angelo, TX. Royce and Linda divorced in 1975. Royce remarried in 1976 to Ruth Dempsey and had three stepchildren, Michael, Karen and David. The two families merged after Linda's death in 1978 and eventually became one family with the guidance of Ruth and Royce. Royce enjoyed traveling, exploring the outdoors and nature, visiting museums and historical sites, watching sports, reading and learning new things, as he was always wanting to learn new things. He helped instill these passions in his children through family vacations and outings, playing sports, encouraging new hobbies, going to museums, suggesting areas of study and teaching, he cherished passing on knowledge to his children. He also loved playing games of all kinds, be it chess, cards and most of all board games. He enjoyed many fun and hilarious game nights with his family, both when his children were young and when they were adults. Royce loved a good game of Balderdash, not just the game but making things up and trying to pass it off as fact. He never completely lost his inner child.

Royce’s academic career led him to study reptiles in the desert southwest, Mexico, the Panamanian jungle and exchange programs in China. He visited all the continents except Africa. His personal golf game was played in all but five US states. Royce’s art collection contained antiquities and historical examples of reptiles in masks, photos, paintings and sculptures. He maintained an extensive journal of his travels, activities and experiences since 1962.

In addition to his parents, Royce was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and his sister, Reta. He is survived by his children, Bevra Ballinger, Ryan Ballinger, David Dempsey, Karen Farugia and Michael Dempsey; his brother, Martis Ballinger; his 5 grandchildren; his longtime companion, Jean Martin and his many friends, colleagues and extended family. He will be greatly missed by all but will live on in our memories and hearts.

There will be a Celebration of Life in memory of Royce on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. The celebration will be at the Highlands at Dove Mountain Clubhouse Ballroom, on 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd, Marana, AZ, 85658