John H. Ball, MD
March 25, 1941 - June 4, 2022
Dr. John Harshbarger Ball, a committed believer and follower of Jesus Christ, went to be with his Lord on June 4, 2022. John was born to Eugene Boyd Ball and Catherine Harshbarger Ball on March 25, 1941, in Charleston, West Virginia. He was reared in Charleston and Milton, West Virginia. The Harshbarger family founded the town of Milton.
John graduated from Ohio University in 1963 and from medical school at The University of Cincinnati in 1967. As an Army officer, he completed his internship and medical residency at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco and his nephrology fellowship in kidney dialysis and transplant at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston from 1970-72. It was there that John met his wife Nancy (Hertz) of almost fifty years on the kidney transplant unit where she worked as a physical therapist. They married on August 19,1972, in Pennsylvania.
John and Nancy were stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver from 1972-77 where he was Chief of Nephrology. In 1977 they moved to Colorado Springs where he began his private medical practice as a board certified nephrologist and served at Penrose Hospital expanding renal medicine and dialysis services. In addition, he and his partners started the first chronic hemodialysis unit outside of any hospital in the city. After retiring from nephrology practice in 1998, John served in administration at Memorial Health System as Department Chair of Hospital Care and other duties until 2008.
From 2014-21 John was a consultant at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Colorado Springs overseeing quality assurance on inpatient care and acute care transfers. In addition, he was the physician liaison between Encompass and all other hospitals. The professional and personal relationships at EH were endearing to him and Nancy.
John was a lifelong learner and an exceptional athlete from high school on. He loved fly fishing on Colorado rivers, especially with his son Justin, and was a competitive golfer who most enjoyed playing with his son Matthew. He also loved bird watching.
Along with his wife Nancy, he was actively involved in the Colorado Springs community and in Hawaii with mission work, Bible studies, mentoring and discipleship ministries. He was a greeter at Pauline Chapel and a member of First Presbyterian Church and he loved seeing his friends on Sunday mornings. He shared his strong faith in God with many people. His humor and selfless attitude made him a most likable and approachable man. His knowledge of medicine made him a sought out advisor for colleagues, patients, family and friends.
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