{{short description|Catholic writer (1944–2008)}} {{for|the Irish botanist|Anne Elizabeth Ball}} {{Independent sources|date=November 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox writer | name = Ann Ball | image = | caption = | birth_name = Ann Ervin Bolton Ball | birth_date = {{birth date|1944|05|13}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|06|08|1944|05|13}} | death_place = Houston, Texas | alma_mater = University of Houston (B.S.) | spouse = {{marriage|Elden Ray Ball|1964|1981|end=divorced}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Ball, Ann 1944– (Ann E. Bolton Ball).|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/ball-ann-1944-ann-e-bolton-ball|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> | children = 3 }}
'''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.<ref>Ann Ball Obituary, 2008</ref>
Throughout her career, Ball held a variety of jobs, working as an author, school teacher, private investigator and operator for a security company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Well-loved Catholic author Ann Ball passes away|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/12887/well-loved-catholic-author-ann-ball-passes-away|work=Catholic News Agency|date=June 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ann Ball|url=https://www.catholic.com/profile/ann-ball|work=Catholic Answers}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ball, Ann|title=Ann Ball|url=http://www.catholicauthors.com/ball.html|work=CatholicAuthors.com}}</ref>
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== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, Ann}} Category:1944 births Category:2008 deaths Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers Category:20th-century American women writers Category:20th-century Roman Catholics Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:21st-century American women writers Category:21st-century Roman Catholics Category:American Roman Catholic writers Category:American women biographers Category:American women religious writers Category:University of Houston alumni