Anne Marie Balog, 85, FHS Grad

Anne Marie Balog, 85, was born Anne Marie Fitzpatrick on December 28th, 1935 in Worcester, Massachusetts to the late Mary (O’Mara) and Christopher Fitzpatrick, according to the obituary posted at DignityMemorial.com. Anne passed away August 11th, in Lebanon, New Hampshire at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Anne was a proud second-generation Irish American who spent her childhood in Worcester and Franklin, Massachusetts. She graduated from Franklin High School, then attended Saint Vincent’s Nursing School in Worcester. After graduation from nursing school, Anne joined the U.S. Air Force as an RN and moved to San Antonio, Texas. While working at Lackland AFB, she met and married Lt. George Balog on October 25, 1958 and at the time, outranked him. They were married nearly 50 years before his passing in 2008. 

Anne’s early married years were spent traveling the United States, moving from base to base, while George received flight training on the many aircraft he flew. She raised three children and endured George’s combat tours in South-East Asia, along with postings in Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. During the family’s West Germany three-year tour, George took Anne all over Europe, mostly riding in cargo aircraft “space-available.” They also took a trip to Anne’s ancestral homeland of Ireland before moving back Stateside. Their last assignment was Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas. They moved to San Antonio into Air Force Village (now Blue Skies) in 1993, where Anne became involved in many activities and enjoyed decades long friendships with residents and staff.Anne was an avid golfer, walking 18 holes each Tuesday morning up to just a few years ago. Along with golf, Anne was a prolific crafter and particularly enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She shared her time and talents with the Sew-N-Sew Club at Blue Skies and organized the annual Bazaar each fall. In recent years, Anne took up zumba, bridge, and the ukulele, proof of her young at heart nature to learn something new no matter your age. She was also a mean pin ball machine competitor and enjoyed challenging her family on countless Sunday brunches at Blue Skies.

Anne’s Catholic Faith was strong and formidable. Many called her Sister Anne, and her devotion to the Catholic Mass at Blue Skies Chapel is a testament to her faith and servant heart. She always made plans to attend Mass no matter where she landed. She prayed the rosary every night and woke up with prayer to start the day, always traveling with her prayer book.

Family was important to Anne. She drove many miles and hours to watch football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and dance, to support her grandchildren. She adored her sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, spending many summers up in Massachusetts and Vermont visiting, while never missing an opportunity to eat fried clams and steamers. After George passed away, Anne still maintained relationships with his family in Detroit and visited several times with her daughter Teri. Anne made many life-long friends from the Air Force and enjoyed attending reunions with her Franklin High School classmates. She was a devoted, loyal friend, always helping without being asked and truly caring for others. Anne lived her life through her Catholic faith and a steadfastness formed from an early age. Her guidance, wisdom, and laughter will be missed, along with her birthday cakes, fudge, kifli and harvest loaf.

She is predeceased by her husband George, beloved daughter Catherine Mershon, parents Mary (O’Mara)and Christopher Fitzpatrick, and two brothers, Bernard Fitzpatrick and James Fitzpatrick.

Anne is survived by her children: daughter Teresa Balog of Austin, son Michael Balog (Steffanie) of San Antonio, and son-in-law Jeb Mershon of Austin; five grandchildren: Harrison, Cameron, and Shelby Balog, Reed and Ian Mershon; sister Arlene (Ted) Hoegler of Walpole, MA; sister Helen Winslow of Rowley, MA; sister-in-law June Fitzpatrick of Naples, Maine; and brother-in-law Steven Balog of Detroit, Michigan.

Services will be held at Blue Skies East with an interment to follow at 2:30 pm at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Care & Research Center (Freedom House): https://www.blueskiesoftexas.org/giving/donate/