Ann Ball (1944-2008)

Ann Ball, one of America’s leading writers on the saints and Catholic culture, died on June 8, 2008, at her home in Houston, from a heart attack. She was 64.

The grandmother of eight was a truly prolific writer, the author of numerous books, articles, and pamphlets on saints and Catholic history, crafts, devotions, and art. Among her best known and much loved books were Modern Saints, Catholic Traditions In The Home And Classrooms: 365 Days To Celebrate A Catholic Year; How to Book of Sacramentals: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You; Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices; Catholic Traditions in Cooking, and Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia for Children. Ball authored or co-authored 20 books for Our Sunday Visitor alone, 14 of which are still in the publisher's catalog.

Ball’s latest book came out this past March, Crafty Catholic Kids: Great Activities for Family Fun. The book was dedicated “to Catholic children everywhere, especially my grandchildren, in hopes they always experience the joy of making things. And a special ‘thank you’ to Brenden Ball, who loves art and is the junior editor for this book.”

Her diverse topics of interest were the source of much popularity among her readers, and her own son, Sam, once observed, “My mom is the only person I know who can write a cookbook one year and follow it up the next year with The Catholic Book of the Dead!”

Greg Erlandson, president of Our Sunday Visitor, said of her, “Ann Ball was a remarkable woman – biographer of saints and would-be saints, devotee of Catholic crafts and cookery, collector of holy cards and Catholic memorabilia…It was an honor to publish her, and we will miss her dearly.”

Ann Ervin Bolton Ball was born in Dallas, Texas, on May 13, 1944, the daughter of Ora Louise and Julian Bolton. After attending Jacksonville High School, class of 1962, she graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi. A convert to Catholicism, she taught parochial school for many years and started writing as an outlet for her curiosity and her own love of crafts, cooking, and especially the Catholic faith. As she wrote on her website, www.annball.com: “I was born the type of person who is curious about everything. That trait has stayed with me all my life, and I have spent many happy hours investigating all kinds of things.”

Ball was also a private investigator, owner of All State Guard Security Services since 1992, and a member of the Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas. She wrote and researched her books and articles in the early morning and then set off to run her security business. Those who knew her were thus never surprised to receive e-mails from her at all hours of the day and night.

Aside from her books and security work, she was active as a champion of many other causes, including the canonization of the Mexican martyr Miguel Pro and the work of Basilian missionaries with their newsletter. Regarding Miguel Pro, she wrote, “I find it horrifying that so few Americans realize the persecutions of the church that were right next door less than a lifetime ago. I find it equally sad that so few of our American Hispanic Catholics don't know about their own heroes.”         

Ball also researched diocesan histories and was an internationally well-known expert on the saints who was consulted by hagiographers, writers, researchers, and simple Catholics from around the globe who asked her help with obscure questions about saints and Catholic traditions. She was renowned for her words of encouragement to other writers. 

Greg Erlandson noted, “She was a big-hearted, straight-talking Texan who provided so many U.S. Catholics with a window on the rich customs and traditions of Hispanic Catholicism…Ann Ball was one of the hidden treasures of our Church.”

She is survived by her large family, including, her daughter, Joanna Ball, of Houston; son, Sam Ball (Danielle) Houston; Raul Quintero of Monterey, Mexico; brother, Charles "Chuck" Bolton, Miami; sister, Julie Bolton Douglas-Smith (Terry), Dallas; nephew, Brett Douglas (Linda), Keller; niece, Julianne Douglas Sanford (Curtis), Jacksonville, Texas; grandchildren Austin Wilken, Max, Victoria, Brenden, Christian, Karolyn, Katharyn Ball all of Houston, Michael Quintero of Georgia; great nieces, Courtney Sanford Foster (Joe), Montgomery, Jaci and Calee Sanford, Jacksonville, Courtney Harper, Bullard, Christi, Erin, and Lauryn Bell, Keller; great nephews Jeremy Sanford, Jacksonville, and Dalton Douglas, Bullard; numerous cousins; and multitudes of friends worldwide.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9900 Stella Link Road, Houston Tx 77025, (713) 667-0497.

Email condolences to the family at webmaster@osv.com.