He was preceded in death by his parents, L.W. “Shorty” Ball and Lorene Watts Ball; brother, A.C. “Bud” Ball and sister, Jean Ball Brooks, all of Ooltewah.
His is survived by his wife of 63 years, Aileene Housley Ball; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Rick McCormick and daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Tommy Shamblin of Cleveland; his grandchildren, who fondly called him “Daddy Bill”; Karmon (Don) Kingsley, Timmy (Lisa) James, Christi (Chad) Cross, Brittany (Mike) Marlow and Justin Jones, all of Cleveland; Kenny (Karyn) McCormick of St. Simons Island, Georgia and Shawn (Julia) Jones of Ft. Benning, Georgia. Great-grandchildren: Audrey Kingsley, Hunter and Abbey James, Calli , Colton and Chance Cross, all of Cleveland, Chloe Craig, Hailey and Aleah McKenzie of Georgetown, Caden and Landen Jones; a sister, Marilyn (James) Fain, of Ooltewah; several nieces and nephews who called him as “Uncle Bill”; other relatives, cousins and many friends.
He had lived most of his life in and around his hometown of Ooltewah. He and his dad owned and operated the Gulf and Sinclair gas stations in Ooltewah. Bill began driving a school bus for the Hamilton County School system in 1951 and only retired from the system in 2004, at the age of 80, having driven for 53 years. Many will remember his bus “No. 1”; a number he had for his entire career. He treasured the “kids” he transported to school each day; many of whom he even transported their children many years later. He volunteered many trips for the Ooltewah High School football team. He was certainly an admired friend to all who knew him. Even after he retired from driving from the school system, he continued to enjoy driving until the end of his life. He enjoyed camping, being outdoors, fishing, going to yard sales and flea markets, and “wheeling and dealing” with his many “finds”.
Mr. Ball served three and one-half years for his country during WWII in England, Belgium, Germany and France. He was drafted when he was eighteen years between his junior and senior years of high school and earned his GED upon returning from the war.
He was a life-time member of the Ooltewah Methodist Church. He was also a Mason.
Many thanks to his special nurses from Family Home Care and Hospice of Cleveland: Shawn and J. Their support and care for Mr. Ball was exceptional.
Visitation will be held at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, on Tuesday, January 17 from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service at the Ooltewah cemetery will be held on Wednesday, January 18 at 1:00 p.m. with Patrick Wooden of North Cleveland Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers will be: Timmy James, Kenny McCormick, Mike Marlow, Chad Cross, Don Kingsley and Justin Jones.
Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com
Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway.
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