Birth date: Nov 26, 1962 Death date: Dec 26, 2019
Erik Louis “Balls” Ballinger, 57, of Leesburg, Virginia passed away from complications of cancer Thursday, December 26, 2019, at home with his family in Leesburg, Virginia. He was the husband of Christina Ballinger, and they share Read Obituary
I met Erik through the Home Inspection Industry as I met him at the National Association of Realtors Conference and helped him break into the home inspection space. He was a great man to work with and a very amiable person. May his memory be a blessing.
Dave Kogan
We were so shocked and saddened to hear of Erik's passing. Our prayers and warm thoughts to you Christina, Zack, Josh and Alex. So many fond memories of our sons playing sports together and the awesome dads coaching. The good Lord takes the good ones early. . .
Michele, Abby and Ben Knuff
I don't even know where to begin - so many others have expressed their feelings so eloquently about Erik. It's heartening to see that he's had such a positive effect - CONSISTENTLY - on so many people throughout his life.
I became acquainted with Erik in graduate school at GW. Early on, it was easy to see all of his attributes: a natural leader, with innate instinct to elevate everybody on his team; his terrific, contagious sense of humor with a healthy dose of self-deprecation; and above all, despite his accomplishments (we all know there were many), his humility. Although Erik passed himself off as a regular guy, we all knew him to be exceptional - not the kind of person that you are likely to meet more the once in the span of a lifetime. I've always felt that I'm a better person for having known Erik and sincerely believe that I would not have gotten as much from my learning experience from GW if he had not been there as a carpool buddy, study partner and (of course) friendly competitor.
Above all, it was clear that Erik cared about and loved his family more than anything else in this world - and that is what I will remember the most about him.
Balls was a great American through and through. He was many things…a true patriot, a great friend, a mentor, a dedicated father and husband, top-notch Naval Aviator, an Landing Signals Officer (LSO), a brave leader, a fearless competitor, wickedly funny, a fierce defender of honor, a lover of life… he was an exemplary role model! It is hard to imaging losing such a light in this world. Erik lived larger than life but did so with a self-deprecating humility that made him even more endearing to those he impacted.
Some of my earliest memories of Balls were from our time in the VAQ-135 Black Ravens together. Balls was my mentor in the “Fleet”. He gave me my callsign and immediately took me under his wing. He modeled how to really fly and fight the jet (EA-6B Prowler). Balls had complete control of the aircraft and could make it do wonderful and impressive things, he elevated the entire squadron to higher performance standards that set the tone for us in the Air Wing and across the Prowler community…by Erik’s lead, we were the best in the air, behind the “boat” and in the O’Club.
Balls was a leader. He took a keen interest in keeping others safe and making them better. As the lead Squadron LSO, he kept us safe day and night, in good and bad weather, through combat and in emergency. It was Erik who cultivated my deep love of waving (the act of LSO’s talking aircraft onto the aircraft carrier safely) that ultimately lead to AIRLANT LSO, the highlight of my military career.
Later in life, Erik and I would reconnect again in the defense industry. Balls had been working for ATK for over a decade when I had retired from the Navy and was working for Lockheed Martin. It was Balls who sought me out for a position at ATK. At first, I was reticent to accept a position as I enjoyed the challenge and people at Lockheed, but Balls persevered. He spoke so passionately about the atmosphere mission and people at ATK that I took the leap of faith. I have been at ATK, now Northrop Grumman for eight years now; it is the perfect fit just as Balls had said.
Christina, Zack, Josh and Alex, thank you for sharing your husband and father with the rest of us. He was a good man and great example for us all. He helped mentor me and chart the path of my life. I will never forget Balls, for his friendship, his leadership and his uncanny ability to make the difficult easy and the stressful less so with his quick wit and infectious smile.
This world is richer for Erik having lived well in it. Go rest high on that mountain Balls. Fair winds and following seas my friend!
-Moose
Ken Masson
My wife, Julie, and I give our deepest sympathy to Christina and the family of Erik. I served with Erik in VAQ-133 30 years ago. I remember him as a superb Naval Aviator and an outstanding officer. His great attitude and sense of humor made him exactly the kind of guy you want to be in a squadron with. It was a privilege to have known him and to have served with him. Rest in peace, Shipmate. Jon and Julie Boe
Dear Christina, Zach, Josh and Alex,
We are heartbroken over your loss and grieve with you on the passing of your phenomenal husband and dad. We are blessed to have been your neighbor for 14 years and to have known your dad in a personal way. His life was one of many actions and fewer words. As far as dads go, yours was a role model for me. Take comfort in knowing that as husbands and fathers come, God has given you the best of the best. Aside from our many conversations about life, several thoughts of Erik will stick with us throughout our lives. If I could count all of the throws and catches of baseballs and footballs between your dad and each of you (either in the front yard, street, or back yard of your beautiful home) that number would represent several orders of magnitude. The beauty and brightness with which he adorned your home every Christmas is something that brought joy to our entire neighborhood. And I don't think that our boys were the only ones in the neighborhood that your dad helped to teach learning to ride a bike without training wheels.
Erik was a man's man. A quick read of his life's summary, and one quickly realizes that he was someone special and how far most of us fall short. All of us who knew Erik understood that right away without even knowing about any of his credentials of background. My friend, thank you so much for the example that you were and for your Service in defending our freedom. And thank you, God, for blessing the Ballinger family with such am amazing man, husband, and dad.
Arnie & Judy Voketaitis
So sorry to read this evening from one of our ATK colleagues about Erik’s passing. Would attend the funeral Mass but out of the country until Sunday. Erik was a class act and a great guy to be around. Very heavy heart tonight on New Year’s Eve. My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his family. So sorry for your loss. - Mike Bender
