ZACHARIAH J. BALLARD

Zachariah Joseph Ballard, age 28, of Columbia City passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, December 6, 2013 as a result of an automobile accident at 11:01 p.m. in rural Whitley County.Born on August 23, 1985 in Fort Wayne, IN to Mart Eugeneand Sally Jo (Prough) Ballard.

He was a lifetime resident of Columbia City, graduating from Columbia City High School with the class of 2004. He was a volunteer firefighter for Columbia City and Columbia Township Fire Departments. He was a machine operator at 80/20, Columbia City. Zach was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed mud racing, riding his Harley, hunting and spending time with his niece and nephews.

He is survived by his parents, Mart and Sally Ballard; 2 brothers, Jeremiah and (late Shanna) Ballard and Zebadiah (Stephanie) Ballard; nephews, Scout Peewee Ballard, Isaiah Peanut Ballard and 1 niece, Olivia Ollie Ballard; paternal grandmother, Ruby Ballard, of Elkhart and maternal grandparents, Byron and Jackie Prough, of Shipshewana. Zach is also survived by several aunts and uncles. He is preceded in death by grandfather, Robert Ballard, sister in law, Shanna Ballard and niece, Paisley Ballard.

Visitation will be held from 1-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home with Pastor Todd Russell Prough officiating. Memorial gifts may be given in Zachs memory the final expenses in care of DeMoney-Grimes.