Adah Ruth BALLARD

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Adah BALLARD Obituary

BALLARD, Adah Ruth (Smalley) Adah Ruth (Smalley) Ballard, 79, of Storrs, Connecticut, beloved wife of Frank W. Ballard, died on Saturday (March 13, 2010) at Windham Hospital. She was born on September 6, 1930, in Alton, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Ruth Smalley. She was married in Alton on August 22, 1953 and moved to Connecticut in 1956, where she lived in both Mansfield Center and Storrs the rest of her life. She was a member of Storrs Congregational Church for 50 years, where she spent 20 years serving as the church secretary. She also served her church in numerous capacities as deacon, singing in the church choir, working with the Edwina Whitney Library and serving with the Women's Fellowship, among others. She was a long-time PEO sister. The wife of a puppeteer and professor in the Dramatic Arts Department at the University of Connecticut, she was equally at home with the arts from choral and operatic music to following sports, where she was an avid fan of the UConn women's basketball program. Her late English Bulldog Winston also was dear to her heart. She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Frank Ballard of Storrs and was the dear and caring mother of two sons who survive her, David and his wife Robin of Berlin, Massachusetts, and Michael and his wife Beverly of Glassboro, New Jersey. One of her great joys was her four grandchildren, Aylee and Catriona of Berlin, Massachusetts and Ian and Jay of Glassboro, New Jersey. She also is survived by her sister Martha (Smalley) Purl and her husband Tom of Montecito, California. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother William Smalley of Alton, Illinois. Memorial contributions made to made to Storrs Congregational Church Maintenance Fund, care of the church at 2 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT. 06268. There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at Storrs Congregational Church at 11 am on Friday March 19. Arrangements through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

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Published by Hartford Courant on Mar. 16, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Adah BALLARD

Sponsored by Janibeth Johnson.

11 Entries

Judy Young Burt

April 14, 2010

To my dear Dr. Ballard and family, I was so saddened to hear of Mrs. Ballard's passing. My fondest memory is of the Saturday we spent at the museum a few years ago with Frank and Adah Ruth as Frank brought me back down memory lane as our tourguide and Adah Ruth as our smiling companion. My heartfelt condolences to your family and my undying affection to you, Frank.

with love and appreciation,

Jason Hines

April 9, 2010

Dear Mr. Ballard, I am so sorry to hear about Adah Ruth. I have so many fond memories of her from my years working at the museum. I will keep her in my thoughts always.

Adah Ruth Ballard, June 2009

March 29, 2010

I feel lucky to have known Adah Ruth Ballard only briefly over the past two and a half years, since I became the director of the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. Adah Ruth's loving devotion to Frank has been inspiring and enlightening, and her graciousness, friendliness, and unceasing support of our efforts at the Ballard Institute has been incalculably gratifying, something I will always cherish and remember.

I always appreciated Adah Ruth's smile, as I am sure everyone she met also did. It immediately communicated a happiness and kindness which was reassuring and calming, but also had a certain intriguing quality that made me want to know Adah Ruth a bit more, know about her life with Frank, and understand better what life had been like back in Alton, Illinois when she sang and performed in Frank's high school production of "The Wizard of Oz" soon after they first met. I would love to have seen that puppet show!

With best wishes for Frank, Mike, Dave, and your wonderful families, I remain

yours sincerely,

John Bell

March 29, 2010

The following message is forwarded from Peter Lewis:

Please convey sincerest condolences from The Puppetry Guild of Greater New York.

Many years ago, a small group of NYC puppeteers visited UConn, and enjoyed a splendid puppet production of "Peer Gynt", directed by Frank.

This was followed by a lovely dinner at the Ballards' home. Ada Ruth was a charming and gracious hostess. It was a memorable evening!

Peter Lewis for PGOGNY, The Puppetry Guild of Greater New York

Deborah Jones

March 18, 2010

I wish to send my sympathy to Mr. Ballard, David and Michael and family on the passing of Adah Ruth. This is a great loss. I worked with Frank and Adah Ruth at the Ballard Institute and Museum during museum's formative years. I was the board member who portrayed the museum's mascot, BIMP, and did balloon sculptures for visitors on openings of exhibits.
Ever since my time on the museum board, Adah Ruth was a good friend to me. I often inquired of her and Frank on various career moves that i made in the area of puppetry.

Helene Jensen

March 18, 2010

I wish to express my condolences to Frank and sons. We were neighbors in Northwood Apartments in 1956 as newcomers from the Midwest. I will cherish the memory of Adah Ruth's kindness and thoughtfulness. My thoughts are with you.

Janibeth Johnson

March 17, 2010

To "Mr. B.", as we students used to call him, and to David and Michael and family: I was so saddened and shocked to learn of Adah Ruth's passing. I have so many warm memories of her, going back to the late 1960's when I took the first puppetry class and later performed in many shows. Mrs. Ballard was a wonderful and warm hostess, both in her gracious home and later at the Museum. She was so kind as to attend my own mother's funeral back in 1995. It is hard to believe that her bright presence has left this life, but it must be now brightly illuminating the next.

Blessings and prayers and my constant thoughts for all in this loss.

March 17, 2010

Dear Frank, I was shocked and very saddened to read of Adah Ruth's passing. I will always remember how patient you and Adah Ruth were with our shenanigans when we were neighbors. With great sadness I send you my condolences.
Isobel Kaufman

Pam Roberts

March 16, 2010

Dear Frank, David, Michael and your entire families,
I was saddened to hear of the death of Adah Ruth. It is hard to find the right words but I hope you will feel my prayers of support for you all and know my thoughts of appreciation for having known, worked with, loved and cherished her.

March 16, 2010

To Dr. Frank Ballard/ Frank, it was with profound sorrow that Erwin called to tell me of Adah's passing. I would normally write a personal note, but I know you no longer reside in your home. June joins me in expressing our sympathies and prayers. / N. Gail Weinrich

Violet Cocrane

March 16, 2010

Violet Cocrane

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