Alvina (Ann) Ballinger, age 88, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on March 30, 2022. She was born February 2, 1934, in Flasher, North Dakota, to second-generation Americans: Gabriel Hammel Schantz and Rose (Scheeler) Schantz, of German-Ukraine heritage. In 1947, Ann moved to Seattle, WA where she graduated from Holy Rosary School in 1951.
Ann started her career as a Teletypist for the US Army at Fort Lewis where she met her husband, William (Bill) Ballinger, Sr. The two were married February 2, 1954; and remained married for 57 years until Bill passed away Oct 30, 2011. After 25 years of civil service, Ann retired in 1990 as Secretary to the Director of the Social Security Teleservice Center in Auburn, WA.
Ann and Bill lived throughout the US and foreign countries during Bill’s 28-year military career. She is survived by their six children: Paula Ballinger, Pamela (Greg) Oliva, Bill Ballinger, Jr., Claudia (Richard) MacKaron, Sharon (Tim) Lowe, and Jim (Michelle) Ballinger; her 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is predeceased in death by her husband, Bill; her grandson, Jeffrey; and 9 siblings.
Ann was an accomplished seamstress; an amateur cake decorator; and a skilled genealogist, discovering famous citizens and politicians in her husband’s ancestry. In the process, she located hundreds of her cousins in Germany and Ukraine and brought these relatives together at many international Hammel Family Reunions in Germany and Bremerton. Ann was an active member and officer of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society.
As a devout Roman Catholic, Ann became a charter member of Holy Trinity Church in 1964 and in 1982, she served as the church’s coordinator for the Puget Sound Blood Bank. Ann was a member of the Camerman Young Ladies Institute (YLI), founded on the Christian principles of charity and love. Ann was passionate about her conservative and pro-life views. She wrote Letters to the Editor for the Kitsap Sun which were often published. She also wrote to Fox’s Bill O’Reilly and one was featured on his show.
Ann will be grateful for your support of veterans and their families. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project are appreciated.
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