Ronald Vaden Ball

GREENSBORO — Ronald Vaden Ball, of 5623 Cardinal Way, Greensboro, N.C., died Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at Nushagak River Lodge near Dillingham, Alaska, while on a fishing trip with longtime friends. He was 68.

The celebration of life service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 28, at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale Drive in Greensboro.

A native of Bluefield, West Virginia, he was born on August 9, 1939, the son of Warren and Aretta Ball. He was a graduate of Beaver High School, where he was an outstanding athlete, with varsity skills in football, basketball, and baseball. Ron supported his school and celebrated his 50th class anniversary last summer in style.

He was a 1961 graduate of Catawba College, in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he was recruited as quarterback. At Catawba, he played varsity football, basketball and baseball, and majored in business administration. He later earned a Master's degree from N.C. A&T State University.

Following graduation from Catawba, he joined Dan River Mills and served in the National Guard of Virginia. In 1963, he became president of Croft Business College in Greensboro and left there to teach and coach football at Northwest Guilford High School and later at Page High School. In 1977, he partnered with two good friends to start Learning Environments, Inc., a company specializing in providing furniture, equipment and athletic seating to school systems throughout North Carolina. He retired from the company in December 2007.

An avid sportsman and traveler, he loved fishing and was on one such trip to Alaska with longtime friends when he was stricken. The onetime high school and college athlete followed sports with almost as much passion as when he was playing, keeping track of local schools, the ACC, his alma mater Catawba College and the Carolina Panthers. He was a Panther fan, "rain or shine, win or lose."

He was the oldest member of his immediate family. He cultivated strong relationships with cousins, nieces, nephews, friends from high school, college, as well as the coaching and business worlds.

He will be remembered for his commitment to friends and family, his generosity, his "love ya" at the end of every conversation, and his sincere and heartfelt bear hugs. Ron lived through his positive mental attitude, treating everyone equally as he wanted to be treated.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Darlene Landis Ball; daughter, Kristin Landis Ball; son, Ronald Vaden Ball, II and his wife, Melissa; and a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening at Forbis and Dick Funeral Home on N. Elm Street, Greensboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes Street, Salisbury, NC 28144 in his name.

Online condolences may be made to www.forbisanddick.com