Wynne Sharples Ballinger, a longtime resident of Palm Beach and a renowned horticulturist, died Monday, June 9, 2008 at Good Samaritan Medical Center. She was 84.
Born Oct. 15, 1923, to a Quaker family in Merion, Pa., she was one of four children of Philip and Edith Sharples.
Mrs. Ballinger, known as Didi, attended the Foxcroft School and was a cum laude graduate of Radcliffe College, where she earned a bachelor of science degree.
She earned a medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and did her residency in primary care at Temple University Hospital. She later served 12 years as a trustee of Temple University.
When she started her practice in emergency medicine, she was one of a handful of female ER physicians.
She served as president of the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. In 1960, she founded the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute of Pennsylvania and served as its president for seven years.
Her two children from her first marriage to Russian expatriate George de Mohrenschildt suffered from cystic fibrosis. Daughter Nadiejda died in 1974 at age 18; son Sergei died in 1960 at age 7.
Mrs. Ballinger was an accomplished gardener and noted horticulturist. She was a member of the Garden Club of Palm Beach and served two years as its president. Her garden was on display to members of the Garden Club of America for many years and was a stop on the annual Mounts Botanical Gardens tour.
In 1996, she received the Zone VIII Horticulture Award from the Garden Club of America.
In 1994, she founded the Horticultural Society of South Florida and won numerous awards for horticultural excellence at its annual Palm Beach Tropical Flower and Garden Show. She served as the society's chairman of the board, president and president emeritus.
The Philip T. Sharples Horticultural Library at the Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach was a gift from Mrs. Ballinger in honor of her brother.
Mrs. Ballinger was an avid preservationist. The Robert I. Ballinger Award, given by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach for excellence in architectural restoration or rehabilitation, was named for Mrs. Ballinger's third husband. Mr. Ballinger, a chairman of the town's Landmarks Preservation Commission, died in 1987.
Architect Howard Major designed Mrs. Ballinger's home, which was built in 1925. It was originally called La Torre Bianca — The White Tower — because of its parapet, but she changed the name to Villa Leoncini — House of Little Lions — in honor of her beloved Pekingese dogs.
Mrs. Ballinger was a member of the board of trustees of The Society of the Four Arts; a member of the board of directors of the Hospice Guild of Palm Beach; a member of the board of governors of the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults; and a member of the board of directors of the Palm Beach Zoo.
For the past 25 years, Mrs. Ballinger raised and showed Pekingese dogs, breeding more than 60 AKC champions. Her Ch. Claymore Opening Night won best of breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in 2002.
Mrs. Ballinger is survived by her three children from her marriage to Dr. Robert Denton, inventor of a respiratory device for fibrocystic children, Ashley Denton, Stuart Denton and David Denton; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Philip Sharples.
Funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Palm Beach Zoo's Salvatore Zeitlen Hospital, 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach 33405.
