LACONIA ; Roger Cochran Ballantyne, 65, a longtime resident of Laconia, passed away after a lengthy battle with kidney cancer on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, 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, W.Va., Roger served the country in the United States Marine Corps from 1962 to 1968, including Marine Security Duty at the American Embassy in Poland and Belgium. He achieved the rank of E-5. He also was 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 33 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 to 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, Ala., Blaine and Jill Ballantyne of Tomah, Wisc., Matthew and Heather Roy of Miami Beach, Fla., and Andrea and Peter Cravenho of Taunton, Mass.; one grandson, Cord Ballantyne; two brothers and their wives, Blaine and Brooke Ballantyne of Cary, N..C., 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 St., Laconia, on Monday, Sept. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington St., Lakeport, on Tuesday, Sept. 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 IL 60689, www.kidneycancer.org; Community Health and Hospice, Inc. 780 North Main St., Laconia NH 03246; Lakes Region General Hospital, 80 Highland St., Laconia NH 03246; or Taylor Home Community, 435 Union Avenue, Laconia NH 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.