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Flossie Ballard Obituary

Ballard, Flossie
90, of Phoenix passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2013. She was born Florence May Anderson on September 18, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Burrell and Kathryn (Sullivan) Anderson. Flossie was one of nine children, with brothers Burrell, Jr., Thomas, Herbert, Robert, and Harvey; and sister Kathryn (Anderson) Rawlins, all preceding her in death. She is survived by sisters Shirley (Anderson) Stephens and Barbara (Anderson)Hedges. When she was one year old the family moved to Glendale, Arizona and she proudly lived in Arizona for the rest of her life. Flossie graduated from Glendale High School in 1941. There were three significant loves in her life, which would all have great outcomes. The first was softball. Flossie was an outstanding athlete who could have excelled in any sport she attempted, but the big opportunity for women in Arizona during the 30's and 40's was softball. She played for the A-1 Queens during an era when the sport dominated the local sports scene, with two national powerhouses, the Queens and the PBSW Ramblers being two of the best teams to ever play women's softball in the United States. Flossie played for the Queens for 22 years and was part of five national championship teams, was a three time All-American, and was selected to the Arizona Softball Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1975. Her love for softball also translated into a lifelong love of baseball, for which she was a huge fan- first for the Dodgers, then for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Her second great love was for her husband, Sam Ballard, who preceded her in death on September 27, 2012. They were married for 70 years and were a model of unconditional love that everyone in their family, and indeed anyone they came in contact with envied. That model has been emulated in the very long marriages of her two sons and their wives, Terry and Donna Ballard, and Sam and Brigitte Ballard. From them she has four grandchildren, Robert, Jordan, Morgan, and Derrick. She was a zealous fan of the various sports teams that they played for and followed them to games and gave them advice and coaching. Flossie's third great love was for her family. She was a great communicator and defender of the entire family. She was the one who everyone in the family turned to in difficult moments and the one who all were eager to share the happy times with. If you wanted to know where anyone in the family was or what their condition was, you called Flossie. She was a Matriarch in every sense of the word until the end and her loss to this family cannot be truly measured in words. Services will be held at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 West Northern Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85301 at 11AM, Thursday, October 17th. There will be a public viewing preceding the service from 10 to 11AM. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Thomas E. Anderson scholarship fund at the Arizona State University School of Journalism.
Condolences may sent to www.westresthavenfuneralhome.com

Published by The Arizona Republic on Oct. 16, 2013.
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I followed the Women's softball teams and have a special place close to my heart for the Queen's and the Ramblers being my aunt Amy pitched for the Ramblers. I will meet you in heaven Flossie and I will love to play ball with you.

October 18, 2013

Terry and Sam, just found out about your mom. What can I say. I think I will remember her laughing and blushing with my mom the most. Laura sure could make her turn red! Hugs to all.

Chickie Marchese

October 18, 2013

We would like to express our deepest sympathy. Please continue to lean on "The God of All Comfort" 2nd Cor. 1:3-4. Our Almighty God will sustain and comfort each of you in your time of grief.

October 16, 2013

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West Resthaven Funeral Home

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