Ricardo Balli

DONNA - Ricardo Balli Sr., 64, passed away on Tuesday, February 13th, 2018 at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco. He was born on March 4th, 1953 to Reynaldo and Guillermina Balli in Mercedes, Texas. Ricardo was raised in Donna and played football throughout his childhood and in high school. He graduated from Donna High School in 1972 and attended Pan American where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. Ricardo was an entrepreneur. He started his own construction businesses, Donna Construction and R&R Enterprises. Early in his career, he spent a lot of time at an appraisal office where he met Rhonda McDonough. They were married on January 19, 1980, and spent the next 37 years together. Ricardo and Rhonda raised their two children, Ricardo Jr. and Reva in Donna. Ricardo's favorite pastime was woodworking. He had a shop at the house and was very talented. He enjoyed working with all of his power tools to build various items. He built baby beds, swings, chairs, and cutting boards, to name a few of his creations. He loved to gift his family and friends some of his handmade treasures. Ricardo loved his grandchildren and spent a lot of time with them. He really loved babies in general and always commented on how great they smelled. He loved to make breakfast for everyone, family, and friends, and he always specialized for each person he was cooking for. He and Rhonda were able to travel and went on several cruises together and with their children. They just returned from a family cruise where they were able to spend several days together with their grandchildren and children. Ricardo is preceded in death by his parents, Reynaldo and Guillermina Balli, his father in law, GW McDonough, mother in law, Nila Nelms, and siblings, Abelardo, Rolando and Cynthia Balli. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Rhonda, daughter, Reva Guerra and her husband Gabriel of San Antonio, son, Ricardo "Rick" Balli Jr. and wife Erica of Donna, sisters, Sandra Ochoa and husband Noe of Copperas Cove, Texas, Cynthia Dominguez and her husband Fred of Donna, brothers, Javier Balli of Donna, and Abe Balli and his wife Linda of Donna, sister in law, Doris Dudley and her husband Mark Dudley of Edcouch, grandchildren, Celeste and Megan Guerra, and Ricardo III "Trey" and Madison Balli, as well as many nieces and nephews. Ricardo will mostly be remembered by his contagious smile and the ability to make everyone in the room laugh along with him. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 17th, from 1-4pm, with a memorial service at 4 pm.