Rita Ann Ball

Rita Ann (Cassidy) Ball was born December 30, 1934, in Harbor Springs, MI. Rita attended Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs and St. Francis Xavier in Petoskey. She graduated from Petoskey High School in 1953.

Rita was preceded in death by her loving husband of 49 years, James Ball; her parents, John and Violet Cassidy; brothers, Jack, Paul, Bernard, and Herbert; sisters, Anita Piehl and Helen Stowe; and stepson, Michael Ball.

She leaves behind her stepson, Patrick Ball; stepdaughters, Susanne Jackson, and Pamela Royster; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren, Numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of Army buddies.

Rita enlisted in the United States Army in 1954 and after serving 20 years was honorably discharged in 1975.

On July 1, 1972, Rita married James Ball. After her retirement from the Army, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a major in history and a minor in English.

Rita belonged to Phi Alpha Theta (International Honor Society in History,) the American Legion, Women’s Army Corps Veteran’s Association, the League for Animal Welfare, the Women’s Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, and the Harbor Springs Historical Society. Her main hobbies were reading and writing and especially enjoyed the two year course she took in writing children’s literature.

Her most memorable assignments while in the service were Top Secret Message Analyst, Camp Zama, Japan; Flight Operations Sergeant, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Secretary to the Post Commander, Fort Myer, Virginia; Drill Sergeant for six years, training some of America’s finest young women; Recruiter and Career Counselor, Grand Rapids and Lansing; and Supervisor, WAC Recruiting Operations for the 11 midwestern states.

Rita loved the Army and the many opportunities it afforded her to travel. She climbed Mount Fuji in Japan and while a member of the Honor Guard in Japan, she met many American and foreign dignitaries. While Soldier of the Month at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Rita had dinner with Joe Garagiola, and she once participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony with Gerald Ford. She also participated in numerous activities in Washington, D.C. during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family. An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com .