Obituary of Alfonso B. Zamora

Alfonso Ballesteros (Al) Zamora passed away in his home on the morning of July 29, 2021. Al leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Nancy (McKnight) Zamora, daughter, Carol Zamora (Ward) and grandchildren: Adam (Leslie) Ward and children Ailidh and Ewan, Arica (Dylan) Riekeman and children Maggie, Tristan and Zachary, and Austin (Elizabeth) Ward and children Claudia, Virginia and Micah. Al was born on June 20, 1930 in Gary, Indiana, and was the son of the late Carmen Gutierrez Zamora and the late Alfonso Ballesteros Ceballos, both of Gary, Indiana. Al’s siblings are Jose Luis Ballesteros Lara of Mexico City, Mexico, Martha Alicia Ballesteros Lara of Hermosillo, Mexico and brother, the late Enrique Alfonso Ballesteros Lara of Mexico City, Mexico and sister, the late Marta Single of Sarona, Wisconsin. In 1952, Al was drafted into the United States Army and became a teletype operator in Pusan, Korea during the Korean War. He was proud to have served his country, and remained a loyal patriot his whole life. In 1956, Al learned to play guitar, and throughout his life, he sang at parties, bars, weddings, clubs, charity shows and even fronted some Opry stars. His favorite place to entertain was at nursing homes. Al considered his most significant achievements to be marrying Nancy, raising daughter, Carol, getting baptized, singing and making music, collecting antiques, serving in the Army, acting in a community theatre production of “South Pacific’ when he played “Captain Brackett” and recording a CD with his daughter, Carol. Al was a kind person who loved everyone and loved animals. He was well known by all of his family and friends for telling wonderful stories from his past with vivid details. He wanted us all to remember that God is in control. Al was thankful for every blessing, and was looking forward to being with His Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at Murfreesboro Funeral Home from 9:30 am until 11:30 am with the funeral service at 11:30 am. Interment at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery Tuesday at 2:00pm.