David Stafford Ball

David was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon Victor Ball, Sr. and Daisy Belle Westenberger.

David is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brenda; sister Martee; brother Gordon; daughters Josephine and Leah; and grandchildren Sepp, Anna Clare, and Anton.

David was born in Hong Kong on August 17, 1937. He lived in Shanghai, Tokyo, Parkersburg, WV, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, and Nashville, TN before settling in Raleigh. He attended the American School in Japan, Hebron Academy, Asheville School, R.J. Reynolds High School, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1959 and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1967. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies.

David was an Assistant Professor of Economics at Vanderbilt University from 1963 until 1966. He and his family moved to Raleigh where he became an Associate Professor of Economics at NCSU, a position he held until his retirement in 2008. He served on the Faculty Senate, departmental committees, academic clubs, and a committee which secured a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at NCSU. David was the treasurer of Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta Chapter at NCSU for 15 years.

David passionately supported the intellectual and emotional development of all people. He volunteered on various church and community boards, including 16 years of service on the board of the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. David was an active member of Raleigh Moravian Church. He was also a member of the North Raleigh Rotary Club, where he served as President and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

In life, David exhibited courage, justice, temperance, prudence, and joy. His hobbies included reading, mentoring, planting trees, playing handball, running, outreach, and working in his yard. His family and friends remember his infectious laugh, unwavering support and compassion, insightful advice, and love of jokes and puns.

David’s family will receive friends on Sunday, November 1 from 3-5 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh. His memorial service will be Monday, November 2 at 11 am at Raleigh Moravian Church, 1816 Ridge Rd., Raleigh.

Memorial donations may be made to Transitions Life Care (formerly Hospice of Wake County), 250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, NC 27607, and the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, 2301 Stonehenge Dr. Ste. 102 Raleigh, NC 27615.