Virginia "Ginny" Maxine Ball

Virginia "Ginny" Maxine Ball, 97, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester. Born April 25, 1925, in Harlan, she was the daughter of Albert Leroy and Martha Elizabeth (Timberman) Smith.

She graduated from Central High School in Fort Wayne with the Class of 1943. On July 30, 1955, she married Eugene "Gene" Alton Ball in Fort Wayne. While growing up, Ginny had lived in Harlan, Grabill, Huntertown, Hoagland and Fort Wayne. After her marriage to Gene, she moved to Monroeville, and lived there until 1970 when they moved to rural Whitley County. Ginny worked for General Electric in Fort Wayne for 34 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and their Rosary Sodality.  Ginny enjoyed gardening, tending to her roses, canning, traveling, cookouts, and was also an avid reader.

Ginny is survived by her son Mark (Sherrie) Ball; granddaughter Michelle Ryan; great-granddaughter Layla Daniels. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Ball, sisters Ruth Fortenberry and Bertie Sheer; brothers Hiram Smith and James Smith.

A gathering of family and friends will be 4:00-7:00 pm Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a reciting of the Rosary at 3:30 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am, Thursday, April 27, 2023, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, with visitation one hour prior. Father Dale A. Bauman will be officiating. Burial will follow in St. Catherine's Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. Memorial donations may be given in her memory to Masses at St Catherine's Catholic Church or Peabody Retirement Community. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send Virginia's family online condolences.