Ann Ervin Bolton Ball (May 13, 1944 - June 8, 2008) was a Catholic author, who wrote several books on Catholic Saints, history, and culture.

Life and career

Ball was born in 1944, a daughter of Ora Louise and Julian Bolton. She graduated Jacksonville High School in 1962 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston.^[2]

Throughout her career, Ball held a variety of jobs, working as an author, school teacher, private investigator and operator for a security company.^[3][4] Following her workday, Ball would then author books on Catholicism, ranging from spirituality to history. She held a special interest in Hispanic Catholicism, especially regarding the life of Miguel Pro, who she authored a book on. Ball wrote that she was especially inspired by Pope John Paul II, who she considered a hero for acting on the calls of the Second Vatican Council.^[5]

She died from a heart attack on June 8, 2008, in Houston, Texas, survived by her two sons, a daughter, and eight grandchildren.

Selected bibliography

• Modern Saints: Their Lives and Faces. Vol. 1. (Rockford, Illinois: TAN Books and Publishers, 1983)
• A Litany of Mary. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1988)
• Holy Names of Jesus. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitgor Publishing Division, 1990)
• The Persecuted Church. (Avon, New Jersey: Magnificat Press, 1990)
• Modern Saints: Their Lives and Faces Vol. 2. (Rockford, Illinois: TAN Books and Publishers, 1990)
• A Litany of Saints. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1993)
• A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1991)
• Catholic Traditions in Cooking. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1993)
• Catholic Book of the Dead. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1995)
• Blessed Miguel Pro: 20th Century Mexican Martyr. (Rockford, Illinois: TAN Books and Publishers, 1996)
• Catholic Traditions in Crafts. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1997)
• Catholic Traditions in the Garden. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1998)
• Faces of Holiness: Modern Saints in Photos and Words. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1998)
• A Saint for Your Name: Saints for Girls. revision of the work by Albert J. Nevins, M.M. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2000)
• A Saint for Your Name: Saints for Boys. revision of the work by Albert J. Nevins, M.M. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2000)
• Faces of Holiness: Modern Saints in Photos and Words vol. 2. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2001)
• The Saints Guide to Joy and Laughter. (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications, 2001)
• Prayers for Prisoners. with Max, S.F.O. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2002)
• Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotion and Practices. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2002)
• Young Faces of Holiness. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2003)
• OSV's Catholic Encyclopedia for Children. (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2003)

References