Obituary of William H Ball

William H. Ball died of natural causes at the age of 94 on December 20th. He was a fifth-generation Rye resident and a lifelong member of Resurrection Parish. Born in 1925, to Rye Police Sergeant Cornelius F. and Anna Balls, Bill’s easygoing, friendly manner belied the fact that he had met and survived the greatest challenges of the 20th century – from the hardship of the Great Depression to the horror of war. Bill attended the newly constructed Resurrection elementary school, and upon graduating Rye High School in 1943 enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Patton’s 3rd Army as a forward observer for “A Battery” of the 81st Field Artillery. For their actions in France, Belgium (Ardennes forest during the push to Bastogne and the broader Battle of the Bulge), Luxembourg, and ultimately Germany – his unit received numerous citations for valor from Generals Marshall, Middleton, and Eisenhower to name a few. After returning to Rye Bill reconnected with Constance White (RHS ’45). They were married in 1949. They started a family, and he started doing his part to build upon the Ball family’s already established legacy of service to Rye. Over the next six decades, Bill served two terms on the Rye City Council; was a District Leader of the Rye Republican Party, was a Rye Town Park Commissioner for 18 years, was a member of the Rye Golf Commission for 12 years, a member (and past President) of the Rye Lions’ Club for 40+ years, a member American Legion post 128, and was a 60-plus year member (and ex-Chief, Poningo Hook & Ladder Co.) of the Rye Fire Department. The son of a policeman and grandson of Chief William H. Balls, as a young man Bill caddied at the Apawamis Club and worked as a lifeguard at both the old Oakland Beach Pool and the WCC Beach Club. His 40-year professional career began at the (now defunct) Third Avenue Bus Company but was spent primarily with the New York Telephone Company, where he experienced the Bell System’s transformation to Nynex, then Bell Atlantic, then ultimately AT&T. Having been taught the game by his father Corny during the hickory shaft era, Bill had a lifelong passion for golf, and he and Connie played countless rounds together at Rye Golf and beyond. Bill was in every sense a son of Rye, and with his passing we have lost a remarkable civic and institutional memory. Yet much of his loving family survives him. Though predeceased by his sisters Ann, Jeanne, and Betty as well as his wife Connie – Bill is survived by his brother Neil (Bucky) daughters Barbara (McHugh), Corinne, Diane (Brendel), and sons Dave and Andy. He leaves behind 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren – all of whom will miss him eternally. A wake is scheduled at Graham Funeral Home on Thursday, December 26th with visitation from 5:00-8:00pm, and a mass of Christian burial will be held at Resurrection Church on Friday, December 27th at 10:00am.