Reverend Wayne Earl Balcom, formerly of Rapid City, SD, passed away May 27, 2011, after a five-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Born November 8, 1925, in Bonesteel, SD, he graduated from Rapid City High School and attended Sioux Falls (SD) College. After serving as an agent with the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Japan following World War II, Wayne married Dorothy Anne Macneal of Baltimore, a teacher of hearing impaired children, and earned graduate degrees in divinity and social work from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Bryn Mawr College. He became associate executive of the Syracuse (NY) Council of Churches, eventually relocating to the state of Washington, where he held coordinating positions with Senior Services, Northern State Hospital, and the DSHS Work Incentive Program. He also served for a decade as pastor of Burton Community Church on Vashon Island. In 1993, in an effort to cope with Dorothy's death, Wayne earned a world record as the oldest person to climb to the highest point of all 50 states, a feat achieved entirely during his 66th year. An avid outdoorsman and environmentalist, he enjoyed classical music, ballroom dance and travel, including a trip to Burma in his late 70s.
Wayne is survived by his sister, Vicky Burcham; brothers, Everett and Charles Balcom; his children, Janet Whitlock, and Roger, Douglas, and Robin Balcom; seven grandchildren; and longtime friend, Marjorie Edwards.He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, Claude and Bessie Yeamans Balcom; stepmother, Millie Sayler Balcom; brothers, Robert Balcom and Ray Balcom (on March 19), a half-brother, Lester in World War II; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, including Audrey Chesney Balcom (on April 11).
A joint memorial service for Wayne and Ray Balcom will be Thursday, August 18, at the First United Methodist Church, Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mountaineers (www.mountaineers.org), the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org), or the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).
Wayne is survived by his sister, Vicky Burcham; brothers, Everett and Charles Balcom; his children, Janet Whitlock, and Roger, Douglas, and Robin Balcom; seven grandchildren; and longtime friend, Marjorie Edwards.He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, Claude and Bessie Yeamans Balcom; stepmother, Millie Sayler Balcom; brothers, Robert Balcom and Ray Balcom (on March 19), a half-brother, Lester in World War II; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, including Audrey Chesney Balcom (on April 11).
A joint memorial service for Wayne and Ray Balcom will be Thursday, August 18, at the First United Methodist Church, Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mountaineers (www.mountaineers.org), the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org), or the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).
Reverend Wayne Earl Balcom, formerly of Rapid City, SD, passed away May 27, 2011, after a five-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Born November 8, 1925, in Bonesteel, SD, he graduated from Rapid City High School and attended Sioux Falls (SD) College. After serving as an agent with the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Japan following World War II, Wayne married Dorothy Anne Macneal of Baltimore, a teacher of hearing impaired children, and earned graduate degrees in divinity and social work from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Bryn Mawr College. He became associate executive of the Syracuse (NY) Council of Churches, eventually relocating to the state of Washington, where he held coordinating positions with Senior Services, Northern State Hospital, and the DSHS Work Incentive Program. He also served for a decade as pastor of Burton Community Church on Vashon Island. In 1993, in an effort to cope with Dorothy's death, Wayne earned a world record as the oldest person to climb to the highest point of all 50 states, a feat achieved entirely during his 66th year. An avid outdoorsman and environmentalist, he enjoyed classical music, ballroom dance and travel, including a trip to Burma in his late 70s.
Wayne is survived by his sister, Vicky Burcham; brothers, Everett and Charles Balcom; his children, Janet Whitlock, and Roger, Douglas, and Robin Balcom; seven grandchildren; and longtime friend, Marjorie Edwards.He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, Claude and Bessie Yeamans Balcom; stepmother, Millie Sayler Balcom; brothers, Robert Balcom and Ray Balcom (on March 19), a half-brother, Lester in World War II; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, including Audrey Chesney Balcom (on April 11).
A joint memorial service for Wayne and Ray Balcom will be Thursday, August 18, at the First United Methodist Church, Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mountaineers (www.mountaineers.org), the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org), or the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).
Wayne is survived by his sister, Vicky Burcham; brothers, Everett and Charles Balcom; his children, Janet Whitlock, and Roger, Douglas, and Robin Balcom; seven grandchildren; and longtime friend, Marjorie Edwards.He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, Claude and Bessie Yeamans Balcom; stepmother, Millie Sayler Balcom; brothers, Robert Balcom and Ray Balcom (on March 19), a half-brother, Lester in World War II; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, including Audrey Chesney Balcom (on April 11).
A joint memorial service for Wayne and Ray Balcom will be Thursday, August 18, at the First United Methodist Church, Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mountaineers (www.mountaineers.org), the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org), or the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).
Bio by: Frankie
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