Joanna Ratliff Ballou

Joanna Ratliff Ballou Of San Francisco died January 22, 2010, after a brief illness. Born in Oklahoma City in 1920, she attended Mills College and UCLA, graduating from George Washington University with a degree in dietetics. She married her life''s companion, George T. Ballou in 1942. They shared a love of people, travel, and international affairs until his death in 1994. Joanna was an active volunteer in Bronxville, NY, where they lived from 1949 to 1959. She was involved in the Girl Scouts, the National Service League and president of the Junior League. After their moving to San Francisco, Joanna launched into 50 years of service with civic and nonprofit organizations, serving on the boards of the Volunteer Auxiliary of the Youth Guidance Center, Edgewood, the World Affairs Council, the International Institute, Nob Hill Association, the St. Francis Hospital Foundation and the International Diplomacy Council, among others, as well as two terms on the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Commission. Her energy and creativity in entertaining and fundraising were legendary. An indefatigable world-wide traveler, Joanna welcomed the new millennium at Angkor Wat and recently finished a tour of the California missions and the Alaskan Inland Passage. Joanna was also a member of the Town & Country Club, the Junior League and the St. Francis Yacht Club. She never tired of learning new things and meeting new people. Animals always held a special place in her heart. Her greatest joy was found with her family and she supported their activities to the fullest. Joanna is survived by her daughters, Ruthie Ballou Conway and Mary Jane Ballou, granddaughters Christy Conway York and Joanna Magnolia Conway, and great-grandsons George and Charlie York and their father Christopher York. She was also beloved by Elizabeth Duran Gessner and her children, Steve, Teresa, and Marika Gessner-Kary, for whom she was a second mother and grandmother. Private burial will take place in Texarkana, AR. A Celebration of Joanna''s life will be held at Grace Cathedral on February 18, 2010 at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, 1801 Vicente, San Francisco, 94116, www.edgewood.org; the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street suite 200, San Francisco, 94108, www.itsyourworld.org; the Friends of San Francisco Animal Care & Control, FSFACC, PO Box 475344, San Francisco, 34147-5344, www.helpacc.org; or the charity of your choice.