Helen (Beans) Risinger

RISINGER - Helen Earlene (Beans), aged 81, of Grand Rapids passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 where she was born in Hess, Oklahoma, due to complications of pneumonia. She was predeceased by her parents Homer and Lizzie Risinger. She is survived by four brothers, Bill (Sally) Risinger, Paris Dale Risinger, Carl (Shirley) Risinger, Gary Risinger; one niece, Wendy (Shawn) Sager; and one nephew, Ricky Risinger. Beans left Oklahoma in 1948 to play professional baseball in the All American Girls Baseball League, where she pitched for the Grand Rapids Chicks until the league folded in 1954. Through that experience she was an advisor for the movie A League of Their Own. She stayed in Grand Rapids where she trained as a Radiologic Technologist and worked many years as a medical assistant for orthopedic surgeons. She made friends wherever she went and had a vast network of friends throughout the United States. She had many special friends in the Grand Rapids area, especially the Smitter family who became her family away from Hess. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 1, 2008 at the Lowell Tims Funeral Chapel in Altus, Oklahoma with Dr. Roy Mc Daniel officiating. Remembrances may be sent via email at www.lowell-tims.com.