Anna May Ball

Anna May Ball, daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Budeslich) Vlahovich, was born on July 30, 1918 in Kirksville, Missouri, and departed this life on October 3, 2011 at her residence in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, surrounding by her loving family.
Her parents emigrated from Yugoslavia and resided in Youngstown, Missouri, where her father along with others started the Chariton River Coal Company. This was a coal mine producing Bituminous coal. Anna talked occasionally about how her father and brothers worked from dawn until dusk for ten cents a day.
Anna grew up in Youngstown, Missouri and attended Sloan’s Point Elementary School, a one room school-house. She later transferred to Kirksville Senior High School in Kirksville and graduated in 1938.
She was an accomplished secretary and attended the Chillicothe Business School, training extensively in Gregg shorthand. She worked as a secretary and was at one time employed by the War Department of the Pentagon.
It was during this time that she met her future husband, Wayne Ball while he was in the Marine Corp stationed in Washington. They were united in marriage on March 20, 1942 in Arlington, Virginia. Five sons were born to this union: Daniel, Edward, Richard, Patrick and Michael. They made their home and raised their boys in Kirksville, Missouri.
Anna was a stay at home mom who devoted her entire life to the well being of her boys. She was an active member of the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church where she was involved in many church activities as well as school activities, while her boys were attending the Mary Immaculate Catholic School.
For several years Anna and Wayne ran a restaurant, “The Factory Lunch,” across the street from their home in Kirksville while Wayne attended college.
Anna was involved in school activities in different communities, assisting her husband who was Superintendent at several locations including, Ravanna, Missouri, Novinger, Missouri, Rennick, Missouri and in Palmer, Iowa. Following their retirement, Anna and Wayne moved to Mtn. Grove, Missouri in 1995.
Anna enjoyed travelling and visiting her children and grandchildren.
She loved spending time with her family and picking up walnuts with the grandchildren. She was a Catholic Christian who enjoyed passing along her faith to others. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mtn. Grove. She enjoyed the wonderful people of the Mtn. Grove Community.
Anna always kept busy, washing, cleaning, cooking, ironing, and tending to her flowers. She was never idle. She liked to eat hard crust bread, cheeses, salami, soups, ice cream and candy bars.
Anna had by today’s standards limited education opportunities but she was a great teacher. Drawing from her parents strong convictions, she learned to do an honest days work for an honest days wage and to treat others with respect and compassion, regardless of the circumstances. Anna taught by her actions. She was a wonderful mother.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers: John Vlahovich, Stanley Vlahovich, David Vlahovich, and Daniel Vlahovich; and by an infant sister: Katherine Vlahovich.
Anna is survived by her loving husband of sixty-nine years: Wayne Ball of their home; five sons: Dr. Daniel Ball and his wife, Marjorie, of Greenwood, South Carolina, Dr. Edward Ball of Grand Ledge, Michigan, Richard Ball and his wife, Artis, Kirksville, Missouri, Dr. Patrick Ball and his wife, Mary, of Oak Hill, Ohio, and Dr. Michael Ball and his wife, Patricia, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren: David , Steven, Brian, Aaron, Jacob, Sandy, Jeremy, Patrick, Benjamin, Laura, Amy, Emily, Patrick, Joseph, and Emma; ten great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss her very much.

Burial:
Novinger Cemetery, Novinger, Missouri near Kirksville at 4:30 PM on Thursday

Memorial Contributions:
Wayne and Anna Ball Scholarship Fund Truman State University c/o the funeral home.