Published in the July 19, 2019 edition.
MELROSE — William E. Ball, 96, died at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington on July 11, 2019.
William was born in Woburn on December 9, 1922 and was the son of the late John Ball and Helen (Flaherty) Ball. William was raised in Woburn and graduated from Woburn High School class of 1940. He moved to Melrose when he married Mary Clark at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose on April 30, 1949 and resided there for the rest of his life.
William joined the U.S. Army on April 22, 1943. He was stationed in England where his company, the 134 AAA Gun Battalion, shot down German buzz bombs over the English Channel. Later he fought in Belgium, France and Germany. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant on February 2, 1946, his mother’s birthday.
William worked for the B&M Railroad for 25 years and then joined the MBTA as a project manager, retiring in 1987. After retirement William enjoyed traveling to visit friends and relatives. He especially enjoyed the Army reunions with his fellow 134 AAA Gun Battalion members. William was a long time member of St. Mary’s Parish in Melrose.
Mr. Ball was the beloved husband of the late Mary (Clark) Ball. Loving father of John Ball and his wife Lynne of Malden, Kathleen Ball of Melrose, Edward Ball and his wife Brenda of Pittston, Maine, and Stephen Ball and his wife Olga of Bloomington, Ind. Proud grandfather of Michael, Brian, Deirdre, Kathleen, Kieran and Aidan and great-grandfather of Henry and Vivian. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Monday, July 15. Funeral procession was from Gately Funeral Home on Tuesday morning July 16, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert St. Melrose. Interment with Military Honors was at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in William’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project, P. O. Box 758517,Topeka, Kansas 66675. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
