Robert Ball

1932 - 2022

Robert Russell Ball
1932-2022
Robert Russell Ball passed away on January 15, 2022 after suffering a fall, at the age of 89. Bob was born to Robert and Ruth Ball, and had two older sisters Barbara and Marian. A year after his birth in Florida, the family moved to Indianapolis, and then moved to a farm outside of Garden City, Kansas when he was ten.
Bob grew up working on the family farm and served as the state president of the FFA Kansas chapter. The son of an ardent high school coach, Bob was active in all sports during his high school years, even hosting a local radio sports show he announced as "Play Ball with Bob Ball". He began refereeing high school football and basketball games during his college years at the University of Kansas, and remained an enthusiastic football fan throughout his life.
In 1953 Bob married Marlene Moss, whom he met at college, and they had four children. Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kansas with academic honors, receiving a degree in history in 1954. He was active in the Air Force ROTC, and after college Bob's time was a mix of active and reserve duty with the Air Force and his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1958. He subsequently received his masters and a doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Bob's dissertation was published in book form in 1977 as The "I Feel" Formula and later reissued as Why Can't I Tell You Who I really Am? He went on to write two more books, Walking on Water: Self-Esteem and a Journey of Faith, and Being With: Maybe This Is What Life Is All About.
His career as a Presbyterian minister began in Bristow, Oklahoma, and in 1961 he became co-pastor at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Tulsa. He and Marlene moved to Houston in 1969 when he became the senior pastor at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Bob loved sharing the Good News with people, and wanted everyone to know they were loved, forgiven, and accepted children of God. He had an innate ability to preach, and his sermons made an impact on many. His children still hear from those whose lives were changed by his preaching, 40+ years later. He was known for delivering his sermons, without notes, sitting on a simple stool in front of the church.
He moved to Santa Ana, California and became the senior minister for First Presbyterian Church, where he met and married Susan Stout. Bob and Sue moved to Sacramento where he led Fremont Presbyterian Church, his final church; though he continued to periodically serve as a guest minister and speaker at multiple churches for many more years. After retiring from the ministry, Bob was proud of his work as the Executive Director for the California Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem and Personal Responsibilities; and was philosophical about the task force being satirized (and publicized) in the Doonesbury comic strip.
He met Lorraine Idriss while teaching a class on a cruise ship, and they married in 1995. They moved to Austin in 1997 in order to be near his daughters and watch his grandchildren grow up. Bob and Lorraine enjoyed traveling in their retirement, and visited many places around the world.
Bob was convinced that the most important thing in life was a thankful attitude, and this continued even after his Alzheimer's diagnosis. He always recognized his family when they came to visit, and continuously voiced his appreciation for them. He chose to be loving, kind and grateful, regardless of the circumstances.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters and a niece, Lea-Anne. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, his four children, Bob (LouAnn) Ball, Dianne (Mark) Erlewine, Randy Ball, and Nancy (Chris) Ball-Corriere, five grandchildren, Kristen, Charlie, Taylor, Kelly and Paige, two great grandchildren, Elise and Isaiah, two nieces, Mary and Myrna, and two nephews, Walt and Russ.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held at a later date. If you wish to honor Bob, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association, or Meals on Wheels Central Texas.