Wayne Ball

Wayne Ball, son of the late Ira and Belle (Black) Ball, was born on April 9, 1921 in a two bedroom Cabin in Del Rio, Tennessee. He departed this life on December 31, 2013 in the Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mtn. Grove, Missouri. He was 92 years of age.

Wayne attended Cocke County Elementary and High School in Newport, Tennessee, and graduated from high school at 16 years of age. He worked on a farm for fifty cents a day. He left home at age sixteen and went to New Jersey until he entered the United States Marine Corp. in 1942 during World War II. He fought in the Pacific Theater, several occupied islands by Japan, including Okinawa and Guadalcanal. He finished his military career with an honorable discharge in 1946. While he was in the Marines, he was stationed in Washington, D.C. This is where he met his future wife, Anna Vlahovich. They were united in marriage on March 20, 1942 in Arlington, Virginia. Five sons were born to this union, Daniel, Edward, Richard, Patrick, and Michael. They made their home and raised their boys in Kirksville, Missouri.

Wayne worked as a salesman for Red Ball Footwear for ten years. He attended Northeast Missouri State University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and University of Iowa. He received his B.S. in Education, Business Administration, and Industrial Arts in 1952, his Master’s Degree in School Administration in 1954, Specialist in Educational Administration in 1967 and attended University of Iowa, working towards his PhD.

Wayne served as Superintendent of Schools in Ravana, Missouri, Novinger, Missouri, Reneck, Missouri and Palmer, Iowa. He retired in Palmer, Iowa in 1983.

Wayne and Anna returned to Missouri in 1992 and made their home in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, where they attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Wayne served as Parish Council Member for several years. He was also involved with the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club.

Wayne was a great outdoorsman and avid hunter and trapper. He enjoyed taking his sons and grandchildren fishing and hunting, especially squirrel, turkey, deer. He also enjoyed beekeeping with his grandsons, Joseph, Patrick, and Benjamin. He liked picking up walnuts each fall and working his cattle on the farm. He liked gardening and all outdoor activities.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife: Anna Ball of sixty-nine years on October 3, 2011.

He is survived by his five sons: Dr. Daniel Ball and his wife, Marjorie, of Greenwood, South Carolina, Dr. Edward Ball of Grand Ledge, Michigan, Richard Ball and his wife, Artis, of Kirksville, Missouri, Dr. Patrick Ball and his wife, Mary, of Oak Hill, Ohio, and Dr. Michael Ball and his wife, Patricia, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren: David, Steven, Brian, Aaron, Jacob, Sandy, Jeremy, Patrick, Benjamin, Laura, Amy, Emily, Patrick, Joseph, and Emma; several brothers and sisters; ten great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Burial:
Friday, January 3, 2014 at 4:00 PM at Novinger Cemetery in Novinger, Missouri

Memorial Contributions:
Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Wayne and Anna Ball Scholarship Fund.