, GA, passed away on October 1, 2026 after a brief illness at a local hospital.
Herb, as he was known, was born on February 24, 1957 in Summerville, GA. Son of the late Herbert M. Ballenger Sr. and Martha Tutton Ballenger. He graduated from Berry Academy in 1975 and attended Floyd College.
He is survived by brother Thomas (Dana) Ballenger, nephew Brantley (Emma) Ballenger, aunt Jenny Copeland, uncle Ben Ballenger, aunt Linda Ballenger, uncle Alfred Druilhet and numerous cousins and many specail and wonderful friends.
He was a man of many talents. Artist, historian, woodworker, builder. But he will be most remembered for the two restaurants he owned and operated with his mother.
First, there was Ballenger’s Pizza Deli in Summerville that operated from 1981-1991. It was a great place to get a pie, a sub or a salad. Then after a few months, he and his mother opened Ballenger’s in beautiful downtown Gore, GA in June of 1992. This restaurant was opened in an old family building that was once the general store and home of his grandparents. It was a funky place to get a ribeye, a calzone, or whatever other wonderful menu item that he had planned. That restaurant was open until May 30, 2016, an outstanding twenty-four-year run.
The last few years, Herb had worked at Creekside Restaurant in Cave Spring.Per his wishes, there will be no funeral service, but a memorial service may be planned later.
