The Foreign Service Journal, September 2005

Grace Ball , 78, wife of retired FSO Albert Ball, died July 5 in Temecula, Calif., from heart failure. Mrs. Ball was born Grace Sarra- fian in Beirut, and came to the United States in 1948 to teach the Bible and related courses to teen- agers. She attended the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, where she received her master’s degree in religious education. While living at International House, she met her husband, and they were married in 1953. She then transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, where she received another master’s degree, this one in French literature, and continued studying for her Ph.D. After Mr. Ball completed his Ph.D. in English, she accompanied him on his teaching career to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, to the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, and on a research/ teaching Fulbright Grant to Paris and Aix-en-Provence. Mrs. Ball’s travels as a Foreign Service wife included postings in Leopoldville, Abidjan (where the Balls’ daughter, Ruth Anne, was born), Osaka, Athens, Brussels and Tokyo. While in Athens, Mrs. Ball served as president of the American Women’s Club. During her hus- band’s first tour in Japan (1967- 1971) she learned the art of flower- beading, earning plaudits for the beautiful and intricate designs she produced for the next 20 years. Mrs. Ball spoke fluent French and German, as well as Armenian and some Turkish. Besides her husband, she leaves a daughter, Ruth Anne Artz, a grand- daughter, Amanda Artz, and a grand- son, Andrew Artz, of Highland, Calif. Margaret J. Barnhart , 76, a retired Foreign Service officer, died of pneumonia May 13 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Ms. Barnhart was born in Greensburg, Pa. She attended Goucher College, where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international relations in 1950. That same year Ms. Barnhart began her career at the State Department, working with, among others, Under Secretary of State Loy Henderson. She received her com- mission as a Foreign Service officer in 1961. After a posting to Paris, she was transferred in 1965 to Tokyo as senior visa officer and vice consul. In 1968 she was assigned to Jerusalem as vice consul. During that tour she became involved in the difficult search for noted Episcopal theologian James Pike. The Pikes had become stranded in the Judean desert after an automobile break- down, and Mrs. Pike went on for help when her husband could no longer walk. As a consular officer, Ms. Barnhart worked with Mrs. Pike until the bishop’s body was finally found. Mrs. Pike praised Ms. Barnhart’s service in a book about the ordeal, Search : “I don’t ever remember being so grateful for someone’s com- pany. She was the perfect compan- ion for me. When I felt like talking she carried on lengthy conversations about whatever interested me … when I fell silent she simply sat qui- etly and calmly with me.” In 1970, Ms. Barnhart returned to Washington, D.C., as a personnel officer and then served as editor of State magazine. Later positions included consul general in Bangkok and Buenos Aires, and consul in Rio de Janeiro. Her last posting was in the department’s Bureau for Refugee Affairs. She retired in 1984. 82 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5 I N M EMORY u