John Robbins Ball

Our special John Robbins Ball was born on April 11, 1930, in Quanah, Texas to A. C. and Annie Robbins Ball. He departed from us peacefully on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at home surrounded by his family. We are blessed to have so many happy memories from a lifetime of love and laughs.

John had a varied career and always enjoyed life. He served our country as a Staff Sargent in the United States Air Force. He entered the USAF on January 4. 1951, and received training at Lackland A.F.B., in San Antonio, Texas and Sheppard A.F.B. in Wichita Falls, Texas. His most significant duty was with the 17th Air Transport Squadron, Westover A.F.B., Chicopee Falls, Mass. John was discharged December 13, 1954 at Charleston A.F.B., Charleston, South Carolina.

After the military, John met his wife Minta Ann Gammill in Sunday school at First United Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas while preparing for graduation from Texas Tech University. He and Minta Ann were married on May 25, 1956, in the same church. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from Tech, John taught vocational agricultural at Northside High School, near Vernon, Texas. After teaching for four years, he then went to work of Production Credit Association in Canadian, Texas. John retired from PCA after 26 years, but soon found that he was still too active to retire and worked with M.E. Ruby, Walburg State Bank, and substitute teaching in Georgetown.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed meeting and serving others.He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas and loved his church family and his many friends. John was active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as a Scoutmaster for four years. His interests were his family, church, leather working, family genealogy, good jokes and friends. He was a mentor for the “Helping Hands” programs and served as a confirmation mentor for his two very special young friends. John was also a volunteer for the “Meals on Wheels” program in Georgetown at the time of his death.

John was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leon and Henry; one sister, Evelyn; and a grandson, Adam.He is survived by his wife of 53 years, two daughters, Gloria Lynn Knight and her husband Charles, Karen Ann Taylor and her husband Jeff, a son, John Charles and his wife Kim, his brother, Harold and his wife Muriel, and his sister-in-law, Gloria Gammill. He has seven grandsons and three granddaughters and two great grandsons.

Family will receive friends for a visitation on Monday, November 16, 2009 from 6 to 8 o’clock in the evening at the Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, November 17th at the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas. Graveside Service will be held at 3 o’clock on Wednesday, November the 18th at the Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas; Georgetown’s Meals on Wheels; or Agricultural Education Alumni association, Texas Tech University, Box 42131, Lubbock, Texas, or a charity of your choice.