John David, 15, of Winchester, VA, died January 21, 2017, in Fairfax, Virginia.
He was son to John Ballard and Cathy Ballard. He was brother to three siblings: Eli, Virginia, and Catherine.
He was blessed to know and spend time with one grandfather and both of his grandmothers and to be named for his Granddad David.
John David Ballard was a skateboarder, guitarist, writer, origami artist, juggler, violinist, singer, and soccer and tennis player. He was a member of Shenandoah Area Council’s Boy Scout Troop Two (“Troop2cando”). He played violin with the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and Community Music School of the Piedmont and studied Suzuki violin with Ewa Tryczynska. He played baritone in the Daniel Morgan Middle School Band. He sang with the Daniel Morgan Middle School Choir and the John Handley High School Concert Choir and performed with the John Handley City-Wide Musicals (Orchestra pit for “Young Frankenstein” and on-stage as Narrator for “Into the Woods”). He played twice in the Orchestra Pit for the Clarke County High School musical productions. He played tennis for the Stonebrook Tennis Team. He played soccer with the Blue Ridge Youth Soccer Association. He attended the Bible Study Fellowship Children’s Program. With the support of Incredible Flying Objects, he learned to juggle six pins. He braved the American Ninja Warrior Course at East Coast Gymnastics. Alongside his Dad, he built sets for Treasure Island and Seussical for Winchester Little Theatre in Summer 2016.
John David followed the ski traces of his Mom Cathy, first on last off, not as ski patroller like his mom but surely “one of the ones ski patrol warned you about.” He was an Alpine Ski Racer on the Wintergreen Ski Team and Wintergreen Youth Ski Patrol, along with his cousins Nora, Winston, and Turner as well as his sisters. He was also a freestyle skier who braved the Wintergreen Terrain Park features, sometimes perfecting unapproved tricks. His ski pit crew (changing skis, poles, and boots) was led by Uncle Rodney and Aunt Lydia (broke his skis – again – just two weeks ago and did a rail jam the next day).
John David leapt into everything he did with vigor. He was the first up for breakfast before skiing. He was out the door to skate until after dark. He stayed up late reading, or more likely watching Youtube. And we could hear his violin, and more recently his guitar, late into the night. Despite support and love from wonderful friends, family, doctors, and community, John David lost his two-year battle against depression.
He received excellent care, but the family’s experience showed them the immense need for more mental health care capacity for children and teens in this community—so that families need not wait for care or bear the expenses of traveling to find care. His family would like to begin to address this need.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the JD Ballard Teen Health Fund here: www.gofundme.com/jd-ballard-teen-health-fund. The family will channel funds raised to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the Valley area.
John David’s family gave others the chance to live a full life by donating his organs to those in need. While John David’s family’s hearts are broken, their hearts are full knowing that others will benefit from John David’s gift. If you are not a registered organ donor please register today: https://www.unos.org/donation/register-to-be-an-organ-donor/. The family visitation will take place this Friday evening, January 27th from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.
The celebration of John David Ballard’s life will be this Saturday, January 28th at 3:00 pm.
(There will NOT be a burial service.)
Both will be held at Omps Funeral Home, 1600 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA