Wilbur Ball

Ralph Ball was born in Marion, VA, the first child of Ralph and Virginia Ball. He had several jobs before joining the Army in December 1974. Ralph was a combat medic at Ft. Benning, GA and Budingen, Germany before returning to America in 1977. He met and married Kathleen Thiele on December 28, 1977. They had two children: Vernon, who preceded him in death in 1999, and Heather, who is in the Army. He also had a daughter, Michelle, from a previous marriage. Ralph was medically discharged from the Army in 1981 and his wife went back in the Army. He worked at Stanley's Ice Station, Albertsons, and Walmart, as a clerk. In December 2006 he had to quit because of kidney failure and was on dialysis for nearly 31/2 years before going to be with the Lord on August 29, 2011. He has touched many lives and will be truly missed. Ralph was a Red Cross Volunteer in Colorado and worked with his daughter Heather's Daisy troop. He also worked as a substitute teachers aide in Aurora Public Schools, mostly with special ed classes. He was inspired to do this by his son, Vernon, who was handicapped. In San Antonio, Ralph helped with Sunday School, and church youth group at Prince of Peace Lutheran, and was a member on Men in Mission, Saints Alive and the Festival Committee at Beitel Lutheran, and worked with Angel Food Ministries with Pastor Vardie Hopkins of Open Door Pentecostal Church of God. For nearly 11/2 years, Ralph attended Exclusive Adult Day Care, where Kathleen works. He was well liked by many of the other clients. Funeral services were held on Friday, September 2, 2011. Interment will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.