Obituary of Ann Bumby Fallon

Ann Bumby Fallon June 19, 1918 - July 10, 2017 Ann was born in Ripon, Wisconsin to Horace A. Bumby and Merle E. Hockenbery. She graduated from Ripon High School as Salutorian of her class and received an AB degree in Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude, from Milwaukee-Downer College. She then attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she was inducted into Delta Phi Delta National Honor Art Fraternity. She married 2nd Lt. Arthur C. Fallon in 1941. They lived in Algonquin, Illinois for thirty five years where he was Plant Manager of the Speed Queen laundry equipment factory. Since childhood, Ann loved sailing and power boating, and was a long time member of the United States Power Squadron, earning several certifications including Senior Navigator where she graded celestial navigation exams for a time. In 1976, Ann and Art retired to Tucson where sadly, Art passed away the following week. Keeping her ties with Ripon, Ann was a Director of both Ripon Foods, Inc. and Admanco, Inc. In Tucson, Ann was a founding member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and served on the original Building Committee. She belonged to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and received the Grand Cross. She was an Oblate of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and served on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson. She was a long term Board Member of Patronato San Xavier where she was inducted into the 2014 Founders Circle. Her lifelong interest in painting included membership in the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tucson Museum of Art, the Tucson Museum's Art League and Signature Membership in the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild. Her family's homes are filled with her art created over her entire lifetime, including two dozen pieces completed in the past two years. Ann's interest in archeology led to class and lab work at the University of Arizona and she was a member of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. At seventy two years old, a great highlight of her life was to work on an archeological dig at Ashkelon, Israel with Harvard University researchers. Far more important than all the memberships and honors, she was beloved by everyone she met. Nicknamed "Birdie" within her family many, many years ago, she was an example of loving encouragement to us all. She shared her cultured life's interests with each of us - her daughters and their husbands, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren - with her own created art, her love of archeology, Native American art and culture, and her Catholic faith. She always wanted to know about our lives, our careers, and our fun times with sincere affection. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arthur, infant son Patrick Thomas, and brother John E. Bumby. She is survived by daughters Margaret McNealy (Deacon Kenneth) and Mary Begitschke (Raymond); grandchildren Michael McNealy, Megan McNealy, Mollie McNealy Sciascia (Joel), Sarah Begitschke DiMartino (Bergamino), Leah Begitschke D'Antonio (Christopher), and eight great-grandchildren Madeline, Amelia, Calogero, Ella, Malena, Serena, Anna, and Conor. Her family thanks the staff of Sonoran Health Care at Splendido for their years of her care and Inpatient Casa de la Luz Hospice for support in her final days. A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Desert Church at the Redemptorist Renewal Center, 7101 West Picture Rocks Road at 9:30am on Saturday, July 29 with music prelude beginning at 9:00am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Patronato San Xavier, P.O. Box 522, Tucson AZ 85702 - the organization supporting conservation of the Mission.