WILLIAM JAMES BALL Sr.

BALL Sr., WILLIAM JAMES May 23, 1920 to Sept. 16, 2010 Lemon Grove, California - William James Ball, Sr. passed away on September 16, 2010, after suffering a stroke. He passed away peacefully with his wife and family surrounding him. Bill was born in Willow Springs, Missouri to Clarence Gilmore Ball and Mary Frances Warren Ball. Raised primarily in Drumright, Oklahoma, he joined the National Guard after finishing high school. His guard unit was mobilized in 1940 and he was transferred to the 120th Combat Battalion, in the 45th Infantry Division of the US Army. It was during his assignment at Camp Barkeley, Texas in 1941 that he met Elizabeth Maude Brady. They married on October 31, 1941. Bill's Army unit was ordered to Panama in January 1942. After his return from Panama in 1943 he served at several other military bases until his release from the Army in 1945. Bill and Betty settled in San Diego. Bill completed an apprenticeship at North Island and became a lathe machinist. He worked at Straza Industries (later Ametek) in El Cajon, California for nearly thirty years. Bill was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley, California, and worked with the Theater Organ Society of San Diego to restore the church's pipe organ after it was destroyed by fire. Bill loved music and high fidelity audio equipment, and he collected jazz and popular music in many different forms. He and Betty also loved camping, particularly hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. After retirement, he travelled extensively throughout North America. He also enjoyed fishing. Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betty Ball, Lemon Grove, California, his four children, Jim Ball (Nancy), Cincinnati, Ohio, John Ball (Edna), Whittier, California, Eileen Stolz, Northglenn, Colorado, and Steve Ball (Pauline), El Cajon, California. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both his brother Raymond Ball and his sister Mary (Ball) Weese. A memorial service will be held at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive, Spring Valley, California, at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bill's favorite charity: Team Parkinson, 6412 Broadway Avenue, Whittier, California, 90606 (www.team-parkinson.org).