04/08/2026
John Ballantine Young, Jr. of Faber, VA, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
John was born on February 3, 1939 to John Ballantine Young and Ruth Crane.
A graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, John was a kind soul who appreciated beauty, which he expressed through his lifelong love of photography. His friends and family knew him by his generosity, quirky sense of humor, and keen intelligence.
A lover of learning, culture, and classical music, John lived for many years in his Faber, VA, home surrounded by books and records. He had a deep knowledge of the western musical canon but had no use for modern music whatsoever. Confronted by any popular tune, he would wrinkle his nose and pronounce it “noise.”
Counterbalancing his love of music and the arts was his appreciation for antics. He loved to recount his adventures and escapades with lifelong friend Jimmy Furman. His niece and nephew, Saskia and Rodney Young, particularly remember playing “monster” with their beloved uncle when they were young. He chased them around the house until everyone was exhausted. While the family was swimming in their grandparent’s pool, John loved to dive bomb the kids, landing uncomfortably close to where they were swimming.
John leaves behind a large collection of photographs that record both his travels in the western United States, where he lived a portion of his adult life, and his contemplative life in Virginia. He had a gift for distilling grand, red tinged mountain vistas and intricate flower petals into an image expressive of a moment’s sublime transcendence.
A deeply private man, John nevertheless stayed connected to the world through his friendships and his reading. He corresponded regularly with the Furmans: Anne, Simeon, and Christine, and with Rodney and Saskia and their mother, Marian van Lieshoud. He had regular, lively debates with his brother, Dennis Young, who passed away two years ago. A brief conversation was enough to display his mastery of world events near and far. He could also discuss thinkers and writers of many historical periods, with Henry David Thoreau being a particular favorite. He certainly would have agreed with Thoreau that “it is the beauty within us that makes it possible to recognize the beauty around us. The question is not what you look at but what you see.”
John is predeceased by his brother, Dennis Crane Young, and his lifelong friend, Jim Furman.
He is survived by his niece, Saskia Young, nephew, Rodney Young, sister-in-law, Marian van Lieshoud, and great nieces and great nephew Harper and Esmé Dehring (Saskia’s children), Zora and Jasper Young (Rodney’s children). He is also survived by Jimmy’s wife, Anne Furman, and her children, Simeon and Christine Furman.
Donations in John B. Young, Jr.’s honor may be made to Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
Family and friends may sign his virtual guestbook at www.WellsSheffield.com
Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston (434-263-4097).
Wells Sheffield Funeral Chapel provides complete funeral services in Lovingston, VA. Call us today for pre-planning or custom planning options
