In Memory: Ben Arrowood
August 31, 2020Halloween in the Hills, 2020
September 28, 2020
My mother, Judy Ballenger, was a long-time supporter of Camp Fire and Camp Wyandot. Judy began herassociation with Camp Fire as a Bluebird group leader on the east side of Columbus in 1967.She embraced the role with the unbridled energy and enthusiasm she brought to all aspects of her life.Over the next ten years, her club members did scores of activities, learned new skills, attended festivals,performed service projects, and explored the outdoors at Camp Wyandot. Spring and fall campoutsat Wyandot—carefully organized down to the waterproof matches, first aid kit, foil dinners,and nature hikes—quickly became a favorite.
Although Judy never had the opportunity to attend camp as a child, she recognized its value andencouraged the girls in her group to go for a week or more each summer. Three club membersultimately became CITs and counselors. Mom remained supportive of Camp Wyandot as timepassed, and was delighted when her grandchildren became campers. She showed hergranddaughter Sarah and the other girls in my club how to sew beads and patches onto their jackets.
At the last annual luncheon Judy attended before moving to Florida in 2015, she expressed a desireto someday make a larger contribution to Camp Wyandot. I felt it was fitting, then, to ask fordonations to Wyandot in lieu of flowers after she passed away on July 22, 2020, of brain cancer. You canread her full obituary here.Thank you to all who are donating to Camp Wyandot in her memory.–Shelley Ballenger Bishop (“Shep”)
