Florence B. Ham

Florence B. Ham, 92, of Naples, FL, died Monday, September 5, 2016. Formerly of Groton, CT, she had been a Naples resident since 1990. She was born November 17, 1923 in Scotland, SD, the daughter of Jacob and Henrietta (née Kiehlbauch) Bauder. She grew up on a farm in South Dakota where she excelled at driving tractors, riding horses and cajoling her sister Alice into many dubious adventures that were viewed with some concern by their parents and which generated amazing anecdotes for her future family and friends. The loss of her mother when she was 11 created her desire to become a registered nurse, a goal that she achieved and cherished. Florence had an irrepressible urge for excitement that took her away from the farm to nursing school then to Denver and finally to Honolulu where she met another adventurer far from his birthplace. She and Robert Ham were married in 1947 and spent their honeymoon journeying across the country to meet her new in-laws in Maine. The family’s move to Connecticut introduced Florence to another new experience – the beach. She rapidly became known for the richness of her summer tan and her devotion to the beach. She and Bob also began their adjunct careers as professional square dancers, an activity to which she was also committed. Florence possessed an innate ability to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about anything; she was a true extrovert with an unsurpassed gift for storytelling and humor. She also exhibited a streak of stubbornness that she attributed to her German heritage but which family and friends viewed as strictly self-induced. She loved her family deeply, worshipped her three grandsons and highly valued her wide circle of friends. A highlight of her later years was meeting her great-grandson and hearing him call her “Gigi”. Mrs. Ham is survived by her loving children, James P. Ham of Buzzards Bay, MA and Barbara H. Dee of South Portland, ME; brother, Howard (Elaine) Bauder of Scotland, SD; grandchildren, Robert (Jackie) Dee of Charleston, SC, Jeffrey (Renata) Dee of Brasilia, Brazil and Kevin Ham of Buzzards Bay, MA; great grandson, Tyler Dee and nieces and nephews including Paul Bauder, David Bauder, Sarah Bauder Schott, and Linda Sutton McGhinnis. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert D. Ham in 2005 and by her sister, Alice Sutton in 1987. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 12:00 Noon at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 15600 Tamiami Trail, North Naples FL 34110 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Christus Victor Scholarship fund. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

Florence B. Ham

November 17, 1923 - September 5, 2016