Abraham L. (A. L.) Ballinger

A. L. Ballinger, 87, a Meadville druggist for more than 60 years, died November 4, 1951 at City Hospital following a fall at his home on Walnut Street.

He suffered a fractured hip when he slipped and fell in his bedroom yesterday.  He died at 6:20 p.m.

Mr. Ballinger was Meadville's oldest still-active businessman.  Right up to the time of his death he had been attending to business of the A. L. Ballinger Company, 285 Chestnut Street, two or three days a week.

Failing health in the past two years had limited the time he spent at the pharmacy, however.

Mr. Ballinger celebrated 60 years as a local druggist early this year.

On January 27, 1891, he took over a store owned by C. M. Zinck in the Phoenix Block at the corner of Water and Chestnut Streets.

Mr. Ballinger was in partnership with the late Frank M Siggins from 1893 to 1919, and with W. Clyde McNutt starting in 1920.  Mr. Ballinger's son, T. Dudley Ballinger, joined the firm in 1924.

The firm moved from its original location at the corner of Water and Chestnut streets to 285 Chestnut Street in April 1945.

For many years Mr. Ballinger was among the most active members of Meadville Rotary Club and Stone Methodist Church.  Since April, he has been an honorary member of the Rotary Club and has attended meetings occisionally.  He formerly was chairman of the Rotary's crippled children's program.

The local druggist also had been a director of the Greendale Cemetery Association and member of the Meadville Bicycle Club and the original Meadville Camera Club.

He was graduated from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy 62 years ago.  Before coming to Meadville, he worked in stores in Philadelphia and Williamsport.

Surviving in addition to his son are two grandchildren, Mrs. Annamary Irons of Willoughby, OH and Mrs. Bryce King of Irving, TX and three great-grandchildren.  His wife died in 1911.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Greendale Cemetery.