Gina Randine Ballinger

May 4, 2022

Gina Randine Ballinger passed away peacefully in her house in Fleming Island, Florida, on March 8, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Advent Lutheran Church, 2156 Loch Rane Boulevard, Orange Park, Florida.

She was born May 10, 1933, in Wild Rose, North Dakota. Her and her twin sister Lina were the youngest in a family of nine. Her parents, Elling and Johanne Svendsbye, were both direct immigrants from Norway, with Elling being a farmer and lumberjack and Johanna a homemaker.

In 1936 the family moved to the small town of Bonners Ferry near the Canadian border, and this is where Gina grew up and graduated from high school.

While attending nursing school in Spokane, she met Robert Ballinger, a Navy seaman from California. They married in 1954 and lived in various bases around the country, including Hawaii and Tennessee, before settling in the Jacksonville, Florida area, where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had three children; William, Cynthia and James, all currently dwelling in the Northeast Florida area.

Gina worked as a registered nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Humana Orange Park Hospital for many years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed watching movies and sports, especially the Gators and Jaguars, and playing card and board games.

She was a strong Christian who faithfully attended Advent Lutheran Church in Orange Park. She participated in the Lake Asbury Ladies Club for several years, serving a term as Secretary.

Her lifelong dream to travel the world was fulfilled in her later years, as she traveled to Europe, the Middle East, Central America and India.

She is survived by her sister Lina Hazle, Toledo, Ohio, grandchildren Dana, Holly, Jason, Elizabeth, Eric, Shayna, Chris, Shaun, Robert and Randy and great grandchild Atlas.