Robert and Ruby Ball

Robert was born on May 11, 1940 in Oregon, Missouri to the late Clyde M. and Ester M. (Elliott) Ball.

Ruby was born on September 20, 1943 in Doniphan, Missouri to the late Nick and Thelma L. (Looney) Pepmiller.

In his youth, Robert was a proud Navy Nuclear Weaponsman aboard the USS

Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier from 02-25-58 to 02-24-64. He loved regaling his friends and family of his adventures on the ship and abroad on excursions. A few of his favorites involved using wit to outsmart whomever he was interacting with. He was known as a bit of a trouble maker, but in all the best ways. After serving the

country he became an elevator man working a long career in the elevator industry from which he retired. During retirement, he enjoyed going to auctions along with purchasing scrapped lawn equipment to repair, then resell. Robert was known as the “tool man” and was known to be quick with a joke. He would talk the ears off

anyone he could manage to get to listen to him. His family used to lovingly say he “had another victim” after engaging in usually overly long conversations while

selling his “treasures”. He loved his entire family very much and his

great-grandchildren were his world.

Ruby was a mother throughout her entire life and family was her rock. Many people will remember her as the bus driver for the school her young children attended. She loved to tell the story of how she used to bang the broom handle against the bus ceiling to scare the children into behaving. She never in a million years would have done anything- “But they didn’t know that”, she’d say. They moved several times over the years, ending up in Arkansas. With the kids raised, she became a car

salesperson for several years and shortly after decided to learn real estate. She got into the real estate business and ended her career with Lindsey. Many people questioned why a 77-year-old woman was still working and her answer was always “Because I love what I do”. During her career she was incredibly invested in teaching the “newbies”. She had a passion for wanting to share her knowledge and help everyone she encountered succeed. She would do anything she could possibly do to help someone out. She was also always a shining beacon of optimism and believed that there was good in everyone. Ruby was also known to tell a few jokes- and not the type you’d think would come out of someone so innocent looking. She loved her entire family very much and would worry about them constantly. She worried about them all, even up until her final moments.

They are survived by their son, Bryan Ball and his wife, Priscilla;

son-in-law, Terry Turner; grandchildren, Brittany Fernandez (Trine), Nicholas Lewis, and Shelby Ramsey (Derek); great- grandchildren, Lilyana Lewis, Hadley and Brooklyn Ramsey.

They were taken from us way too soon. Robert, Ruby and their daughter, Paula, who passed on August 8, 2021, will always be loved and sorely missed.