Pearl E. Ball

Daughter of Stevens County Pioneer Family Passes Pearl Esther (Rice) Ball age 95, formerly of Rice, WA entered into rest on July 25, 2011 in the Spokane Valley, her home for the past 33 years. She was born on March 10, 1916, to Ola and Bert Rice in Rice, WA, which was named after her grandparents, William and Alice Rice. Pearl attended the two-room Rice grade school and graduated from Kettle Falls High School in 1934. She married John Ball in Rice, WA on September 10, 1938. Pearl was a homemaker who loved to cook and bake cookies, especially for her grandsons, enjoyed her yard, garden and flowers of which many others enjoyed and often commented on. Pearl lived in the house she was born in for 62 years before her husband retired and they moved to the Spokane Valley in 1978. She is survived by two daughters, Linda Rew and Denni (Gary) Babcock of the SpokaneValley; one son, John Jr. (Jonna) Ball of Deer Park; four grandchildren, Jeff Rew (Beth) of Otis Orchards, Lisa Sassaman of Gilbertsville, PA, Jason Ball (Tracy) of Colbert, John Ball (Ashlie) of Spokane; five great grandchildren, John Sassaman, Shane Rew, Riley and Casey Ball, Caitlyn Rew; and one great-great granddaughter, Jayda Sassaman. Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1982; her brother, Edwin; sisters, Florence, Helen, Vivien; and grandson Jared, in 2004. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association 140 S. Arthur Ste. 610 Spokane, WA 99202 or to a charity of one’s choice. A “Celebration of Life” will begin at 11:00AM Friday, July 29, 2011 at Riplinger Funeral Home 4305 N. Division, Spokane, WA with a private family interment preceding the service.