Montpelier Jean L. Balham, 90, formerly of Gould Apartments died on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the Central Vermont Medical Center. She was born on October 19, 1925, the daughter of Frederick and Winona (O'Neil) Goodall. She graduated from Montpelier High School and Syracuse University. While studying there, she also was an assistant instructor at Syracuse University College of Home Economics where she received her master's degree. She later went to the University of Missouri to teach Related Arts. She was formerly married to Ronald Balham. While he was studying to earn his PHD, they lived in his native country of New Zealand for 2 ½ years, where their daughter, Ronda was born. Jean came to Montpelier when her husband went to work in the Antarctic. Jean was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and she was president of the United Methodist Women for five years. She was also a former Girl Scout leader while her daughter was a Scout. She was employed by the Montpelier School system for 25 years, first as a substitute teacher, then as the Audio Visual Coordinator at the High School. She was the long time costume director for the Masque Drama Club. Jean was also a director of the Montpelier Historical Society and later served as president. For many years, she assembled their booth at the history expo at the Tunbridge Worlds' Fair. She had a great interest in the Vermont Historical Society and has given many articles to their museum. She had a great interest in the Civil War and she walked many battlefields on her tours. Jean was a member of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board and was the director of the Montpelier Senior Center for 6 years. Jean also served as the Director of the 251 Club for 30 years. She has always had a fondness for gardening and sewing, and she also just took up painting again. She leaves her daughter, Ronda Balham; many friends in Vermont and other states, especially Shirley Scribner, Marilyn Wemitt, Jean Semprebon, Mary Beth Churchill and Tender Loving Home Care who were always there for her and visited often. A Grave side memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:00 am at Plainfield Center Cemetery, Bartlett Road, Plainfield, VT. Memorial contributions may be made to Montpelier Historical Society, PO Box 54, Montpelier, VT 05601 or to Montpelier Senior Citizens Center, 58 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 Online condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com