Ruth Ann Gowing Ballard

Ruth Ann was the daughter of an underground coal miner and a chicken plant processing line worker. Ruth Ann was the oldest child of four, brother Paul Gilbert (deceased), sister Nina Beth (deceased), and James Ralph (deceased). Ruth Ann and her husband Yarb eloped on April 25, 1953. During the marriage she became the mother of three daughters, Roxann, Debra Lou (died at birth), and Beverly Sue. Ruth Ann was blessed by two sons-in-law, Nelson G. Cartwright married Roxann which produced two sons William Ballard Cartwright, add Patrick Nelson Cartwright, and Gary D. Cochran married to Beverly, which produced grandsons Travis Ballard Cochran, Nathan James Cochran (deceased 2016). Ruth Ann became a great-grandmother on March 4, 2019, to Abigail Cartwright, daughter of William Cartwright and Katrina Burdette.

In addition to her daughters, grandsons, and great-granddaughter she had several adopted daughters: Susan Erat, Janie Buckler, Cathy Bowen, Liz Ranallo, and Adrian Stackhouse. Ruth Ann was basically a housewife with Yarb in Kansas City, Missouri (1953-1954), in Clarksville, Arkansas while Yarb was in college (1954-1958), in Dallas, Texas (1958-1963), in Little Rock, Arkansas (1963-1966), in Baltimore, Maryland (1966-pesent).

She worked for an Orthopedic physician in Little Rock for a short time and in Baltimore she was Manager of a bookstore, again for a short time. When Travis and Nathan were born, she became a willing babysitter when called upon. She and Nathan shared the same birthday (December 6th). In 2006, Ruth Ann and Yarb made a commitment to donate their bodies to the Maryland State Anatomy Board, where medical students pass their board on while studying bodies, plus other medically related issues during their studies to become a medical doctor. Ruth Ann and Yarb became member of Halethorpe-Relay United Methodist Church in 2000 where she was a member of serval committees for many years.

She will be joined on the other side with her parents, brothers and sister, daughter and grandson Nathan.

A memorial service will be held at Halethorpe-Relay United Methodist Church, 4513 Ridge Avenue, Halethorpe, MD 21227 on Saturday December 20th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation the Halethorpe-Relay United Methodist Church at 4513 Ridge Avenue, Halethorpe, MD 21227.