David Eugene Ballantyne

November 8, 1948 — June 2, 2023

Dave left this world with a song on his lips as he walked softly toward the sun. He will be remembered by many as walking through life with compassion and love.

Born in Norfolk, Nebraska, Dave grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He served in the in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and was a graduate of the University of Missouri at Rolla. He earned a master’s degree at the University of Missouri at Columbia, and was a metallurgic engineer, retiring from Eramet.

He was a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta and stood behind his beliefs, working to provide solar panels on the church and establishing its Values Trust. He served on several committees of the church, as well as with several other organizations. He believed that climate change needed to be addressed, and was actively involved with Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Mid-Ohio Valley Climate action to combat the world’s most urgent crisis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bonnie (Keener)Ballantyne, and recently by his nephew Michael Smyers. He is survived by his wife, Shari Ballantyne; his daughters Marianne Ballantyne (Kevin Magee), and Corey Ballantyne; grandson Rowan Magee; sisters Tracy Yinglavorn, Gale (Jerry) Funk, and Robin (Dave) Payne; brothers Mark and John (Cheryl) Ballantyne; brothers-in-law Rod and Jeff Snider; and step-children Shawn Miller and Gwendolyne Kubilus, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta, 232 Third St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support Alzheimer’s research through brainsupportnetwork.org, to which Dave was an organ donor.