Jerome “Jerry” F. Balda

Jerome “Jerry” Francis Balda, 76, of Lake Frederick, Virginia, died Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at Winchester Medical Center.

Mr. Balda was born in 1939, in LaSalle, Illinois, the son of the late Rosalind and Edward Joseph Balda. Mr. Balda studied several years toward the priesthood at Saint Charles Catholic Seminary in Baltimore, before deciding to attend Loyola College, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in History in 1961. He was commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and served 23 years achieving the rank of Major. His service included three tours at Fort Knox, KY, 1 tour in Germany, where he met and married his wife, Mary Lou Clinton in 1964, two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal, then 4 years at the Pentagon. Jerry later returned to his Alma Mater to earn a Master’s Degree in Education, after which he joined the faculty there as Assistant Professor of Military Science in the Reserve Officer Training Program. His last assignment in the Army was with AMSAA at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. After his retirement from the Army in 1984, he worked for several defense contractors settling in a position as Director of Education at the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, retiring in 2006.

Mr. Balda was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, in Winchester. He was an avid golfer, former swim coach and former active member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Surviving with his wife of 52 years are his sons, Larry Balda of Lake of the Woods, Virginia, and his children, Erin and Dillon, Jay Balda and wife, Jennifer of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and their sons Nicholas and Jeremy, James Balda and wife, Sharon of Ashburn, Virginia and their children Jameson, Quinlan, Calvin and Teagan, and his sister, Jacqueline Balda of Baltimore, Maryland.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Edward Joseph Balda, Jr. and wife Carolyn, both of Baltimore.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM, at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 PM on Friday, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church with Father Brendan Bartlett officiating. A reception will follow the service at Omps Reception Center, Omps Amherst Chapel. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities USA, PO Box 17066 Baltimore MD21297-1066 or to Sacred Heart Church, 130 Keating Dr. Winchester, VA 22601

Please view obituary and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com