G. Carl Ball

G. Carl Ball a lifelong resident of Glen Ellyn Funeral services for G. Carl Ball, 83, will be held at 10 a.m. today, at the First Congregational Church, 535 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel will officiate. Born June 17, 1921, in Oak Park, he died Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at his home. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn. Carl graduated from Glenbard High School in 1939. He attended Kenyon College in Ohio and the University of Illinois under the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1947. Mr. Ball was a pilot in the Air Transport Command during World War II. After the war he became a commercial pilot with Northwest Airlines, and later joined the family business George J. Ball, Inc., now Ball Horticultural. Ball Horticultural, an international horticulture firm that breeds, produces and distributes seeds and other horticultural products worldwide, was founded in 1905 by Carl Ball's father, George Jacob Ball. The company is now in its third generation, will be 100 years old in 2005, has locations in 20 countries, and is one of the world's largest horticultural companies. Carl became owner and president from 1970 until 1995. In 1975, Carl co-founded the Ball Foundation, an education reform aptitude research and testing foundation, and served as a member of its board of directors up until the time of his death. During the 29-year history of the Ball Foundation, Mr. Bell served as chairman of the board, president and executive director, in a commitment to discovering and developing human potential. Career Vision, one of two divisions of the foundation, continues its original work as a leading researcher of human aptitudes and as the developer of the Ball Aptitude Battery, an assessment instrument that is used in career counseling services. Education Initiatives, the second division of the Ball Foundation, works in partnership with school districts in Illinois, Michigan and California to improve student achievement. Mr. Ball commissioned two national studies of America's schools: "Using What We Have to Get the Schools We Want: A Productivity Focus for American Education" (1995) and "20/20 Vision: A Strategy for Doubling America's Academic Achievement by 2020" (1998). He also led the foundation's start-up of three charter schools: Springfield Ball Charter School in Springfield, Ill., Dobson's Academy in Chandler, Ariz. and Hearn Academy in Phoenix. He is survived by his loving children; G. Dexter (Joanna) Ball of Aptos, Calif., Anna Caroline Ball of Glen Ellyn and George C. Ball Jr. of Doylestown, Pa.; his sister, Annette (Bob) Reynolds of Santa Rosa, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Caroline Vivian Ball; and by his brothers, George K., G. Victor and G. Robert Ball. Visitation was Wednesday, at the Leonard Memorial Home, Glen Ellyn. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For funeral information, (630) 469-0032.