Rev. Dr. David Lee Ballantyne

1943 - 2015

Rev. Dr. David Lee Ballantyne of Elverson Rev. Dr. David Lee Ballantyne, 72, passed away surrounded at home by his loving family from cancer early in the morning of Friday, October 16, 2015. He is survived by his loving wife Betsy (Elizabeth) of 43 years, his son David Lee, Jr. of Honey Brook, his daughter Liza (Ballantyne) Grundy, son-in-law Albert Grundy and his beloved grandsons Aiden and Ben Grundy, and expected new grandson, Blake Lee Grundy (in Jan.2016) also of Elverson. He is also survived by his brother, Joseph Ballantyne of Doylestown, Pa., his brother Donald Ballantyne and wife Lynne of Dover, Ohio, and his sister Catherine Alling and husband Edward Alling of Bethlehem and numerous nieces and nephews. David was born on May 31, 1943 to Robert C. and Jane (Harrison) Ballantyne in Wilkinsburg, Pa. He graduated from Ravenna High School in 1963 and went on to serve his country in the United States Coast Guard based out of Boston and Wood’s Hole, Massachusetts. He completed two tours to the Antarctic aboard the Ice Breaker USGS Eastwind as one of the ship’s cooks. After the completion of his duty, he entered Penn State University graduating in 1972 with a BA in Religious Studies. David and Betsy married in 1972, and David went on to attend Eastern Baptist Seminary, earning a Master’s of Divinity degree, and then attended Princeton Seminary. David was ordained as a United Presbyterian Minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1978 and served Presbyterian Churches in Aurora, Illinois, Newtown Square Presyterian Church, Christiana Presbyterian Church, and Green Hill Presbyterian Church. David also earned a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern Seminary, and a certificate from the Center for Contextual Therapy in King of Prussia. After serving churches for 20 years, David began a career as a Chaplain, serving for 14 years at The Coatesville VA in Coatesville, PA, where he became Chief Chaplain in 2009. David’s loves were Penn State Football, fishing, Rotary, planning trips motor homing around the country with Betsy, and spending time with his family at his cottage on Fishing Creek in Orangeville, Pa., where he will be interred. A family visitation at 10:30 and 11:00 am memorial service with a luncheon following will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 E. Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester, Pa. on Saturday, October 24. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Astrazeca Hope Lodge of Cheltenham PA, 110 W. Laurel Ave, Cheltenham, PA 19012. Attn: Ochi. Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Reading has charge of arrangements.