Sunday's Obituary: Rev. Thomas B. Balch

Central Presbyterian (Richmond, VA)
20 February 1878

REV. THOMAS B. BALCH died last week at his home in Prince William county, Va. A member of the family, without giving the precise date of his death, writes:

"You, and many others, will, I know, feel deeply for us, in that our dear father has been called away from us. For three weeks he had been quite complaining, suffering from a severe cold, and asthma, and we sat up with him every night, but all the time we were hoping that under good medical treatment, he would soon rally, and be a great comfort to us, under the sad bereavement which we had so lately sustained in the loss of our mother. He loved to talk about her, and always said he had never met one on earth so pure and holy. I know they have met in heaven, and what a meeting! My father in past years had dreaded death very much, but long ago that feeling passed away, and all during his sickness his resignation was entire. 

Once he said to me, "I should prefer not to die in the cold wintry time," but for our sakes he seldom alluded to the anticipated separation. His life work was all done, well done, and the time had come that he should enter on his eternal rest. We are left disconsolate indeed, but "he has ascended the hill of myrrh, and the mountain of frankincense, where all earthly shadows forever flee away."

His ejaculatory prayers during his illness were beautiful and even sublime. My father has accomplished a great work on earth, he has preached the gospel with remarkable force, and been a most faithful evangelist. He loved to preach, and when he became feeble, preached from a chair. He was lavishly generous, and a great benefactor in every way, and his loss will be deeply felt."