Verna Bartlett Balch

Verna Louise Bartlett Balch passed away on August 26, 2025 at the age of 90, at her home in Rolling Hills, California.

Verna was born on February 11, 1935, in Long Beach, California, to Theodore and Mauricia Barrett Bartlett. The family operated a ranch and dairy farm in Three Rivers, California. Verna was riding horses by the age of three, helping run the dairy and drive their milk truck by age 10, and raising cattle through the 4H program during high school.

Between milking cows and ranch chores, Verna discovered her true passion: music. At 6 yrs old, she fell in love with the flute and piccolo, eventually earning the nickname “Piccolo Pete.”

She attended Three Rivers Elementary and Woodlake High School, graduating in 1952. In high school, Verna’s music teacher recognized her talent and referred her to renowned flutist, George Drexler, in Los Angeles. Twice a month she traveled to Los Angeles to study with him.

Starting her freshman year studying music at Cal State Fresno, Verna was honored with an invitation to become principal flutist with the Fresno Orchestra. She joined Mu Phi Epsilon, the international music fraternity, and began what would become a life of performing and mentoring. She especially loved participating in outreach programs, introducing the flute to young students and helping them discover the joy of music.

Her pursuit of musical excellence took her to Philadelphia, where she studied with the legendary William Kincaid of the Philadelphia Orchestra. There, she met the love of her life, Bertram Shoemaker Balch, Jr. They were married in Three Rivers before heading to Venezuela, where Bert was working as a lawyer with Atlantic Richfield Corporation (ARCO). Verna joined the local orchestra. When Bert’s job moved him to Iran, she joined the Tehran orchestra.

Her flute took her across the globe: she performed with the La Paz Symphony in Bolivia, the Tehran Symphony in Iran, for Chinese government officials in the early 1960s, and with the Greenwich Orchestra in Connecticut, among others. At the request of the U.S. State Department, she toured Iran, giving recitals.

She later studied with Julius Baker of the New York Philharmonic and Roger Stevens of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Settling in Rolling Hills, California, she earned her Master’s in Music at USC, and taught flute for the next 50 years. She was known as a patient teacher and mentor. Her students ranged from beginners to aspiring professionals, but they all learned more than scales; they learned poise, perseverance, and discipline. Many of her students said that Verna’s encouragement extended far beyond music, giving them confidence in life and the ability to approach complex problems with grace. During this time, she also served as principal flutist of the Peninsula Symphony for 25 years.

Verna was a board member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist Palos Verdes, the Music Teachers’ Association of California, and the Peninsula Committee Los Angeles Philharmonic.

She was a familiar sight around Rolling Hills, taking daily mile-long walks, up the steepest hills. She embodied joy, generosity, gratitude and grace, and had a gift for making everyone feel welcome in her home. Whether hosting music events, flute recitals, or family and friends, Verna was steady, kind and always glad to see you.

Verna was preceded in her journey by her beloved husband of 50 years, Bertram, and their sons Todd Forrester Balch and Peter Bartlett Balch. She is survived by her daughter Barrett Balch Maass (Kenneth), son Bertram Alden Balch, grandchildren Serena Elizabeth Maass and Chadwin Alden Maass, and her brother Richard “Barry” Barrett Bartlett (Carolyn).