Diane L. Ballard

Diane Ballard, 64, a fierce feminist who worked as a speech writer on Capitol Hill and at NASA, died on May 3, 2023 after a brief hospitalization in Arlington, VA. Diane had a strong sense of right and wrong, and after spending her formative years in Texas, was a yellow-dog Democrat who supported liberal causes. She was tall, slender, clever and fun to talk to. While working in a House office during the 1980s, she was known for reading "the Russians" - Tolstoy, Gogol, Puskin and Dostoevsky - while being a fan of "Love Boat" re-runs on afternoon TV. "Persuasive writing is my strength. I'm able to put a human face on complex issues," Diane said in her LinkedIn profile. She looked forward to celebrating 40 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous in July. Diane is survived by her husband, Chuck Abbott, and their son, Leo Ballard-Abbott, of Arlington. A memorial service will be June 3 at 2 p.m. at Clarendon Presbyterian Church, 1305 N Jackson St, Arlington, VA 22201, the same church where she was married 33 years ago.