Shielda R. Ballantyne, 90 of Bucyrus died peacefully on August 10, 2022 while surrounded by family at Kingston Residence of Marion. Shielda was born April 14, 1932 in McKendree, West Virginia, a premature birth only weighing 4 lbs. She grew up in Salem, VA where she lived until age 14. Following the death of her father, she and her mother relocated to Marion, OH with her step-father. Shielda attended Marion Harding HS and graduated in 1951. Shielda studied Commercial Photography at the Progressive School of Photography in New Haven, CT. She held a lifelong love of photography. Shielda’s first job was at the Kirby Camera store in Marion. She then worked at Osgood Co., until the Marion Power Shovel Co. added her to their photography department. While at Power Shovel, Shielda had the unique opportunity to stand on and photograph some of the largest shovels being built, as well as the beginning of the NASA Transport Crawler. Shielda worked briefly as a newspaper photographer for the Marion Star, and one of her photos was published in the New York Times. Her photography skills included hand coloring, portraits, landscape and abstract.
Shielda’s true love was Jack Ballantyne, who she married in 1961. They were married for 57 years until Jack’s death in 2018. Together they were a wonderful team, working on the farm they loved, and raising their two children.
Shielda is preceded in death by her father Samuel Shields Jett, her mother Mona Wheeler Gwinn Jett Frost, her half- brothers John Letcher Jett, Robert Paul Jett and Samuel Shields Jett Jr., and half-sister Sara Harmon Jett Taylor, and her step-father Ira E. Frost.
Shielda is survived by her children Jeff (Dawn) Ballantyne of Edison, OH and daughter Amy (Troy) Darcy of Naperville, IL. She has two grand-children Hannah Darcy and Evan Darcy. She also has the bonus of two step-great-grandchildren Eli and Adley Fetter of Marion, OH. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Iris J. Ballantyne of Bucyrus, OH.
A private graveside service will be held in Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the OhioHealth Hospice through the Munz-Pirnstil Funeral Home, 215 N. Walnut St., Bucyrus, OH 44820