William Hudson Ball, Sr., 86, widely acquainted former Muncie civic leader and industrialist and Indiana philanthropist, died Friday evening in St. Vincent's Hospital at Indianapolis following several month's illness.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Ball came to Muncie at the age of three with his parents, William C. and Emma (Wood) Ball. William C., who died in 1924, was one of the five Ball brothers who moved their Mason jar manufacturing firm to Muncie from Buffalo in the 1880's, it was the predecessor of Ball Corporation.
William H. Ball graduated from Howe Military Academy in Indiana, Hillsdale College in Michigan and from the Cornell University School of Engineering in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1918. He served with the Army in France during World War I and afterward became associated with Ball Brothers Company, now Ball Corp., as secretary and vice-president prior to retiring in 1947. Following World War II, he was with the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington during the directorship of the late Gen. Walter Bedell Smith. In 1953 he served as personal representative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in ceremonies commemorating the Cecil Rhodes Central Africa Centenary.
In 1960, he and Mrs. Ball moved to Indianapolis, where he was the owner of several automobile dealerships including Auto Imports, Ltd; he constructed the original Indianapolis Volkswagon dealership on West 16th St. there.
He was chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis-based Haag Drug Company 1950-67. He was the first president of the Indianapolis Symphony Society, elected in 1936, and serving as chairman for several years; he was responsible for bringing Fabien Sevitsky to Indianapolis as symphony conductor following the retirement of Ferdnand Schaeffer. He was a founder and the first president of the Muncie Civic Theater Association, serving as the organization's chief executive 1931-1941.
Mr. Ball was an honorary board member of Ball Corporation and the Merchants National Bank of Muncie, after serving many years as an active board member. He was a trustee of Hanover College and Howe Military Academy, a member of several Masonic bodies in Muncie and of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, and a life trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He was a former active member of Muncie Rotary Club, and the American Legion , and he was a member of the Muncie Club, and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
He and his wife, Agnes Medsker Ball, who survives, sponsored a number of arts and musical events on the campus of Ball State while residing in Muncie. The Ball family home was at 52 Warwick Road in Westwood, now the site of the Baptist Student Foundation.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Agnes, are a daughter, Mrs. Sam (Lucina) Moxley, Indianapolis; a son, William H. Ball, Jr., Indianapolis; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be made at the Meeks Mortuary.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Ball came to Muncie at the age of three with his parents, William C. and Emma (Wood) Ball. William C., who died in 1924, was one of the five Ball brothers who moved their Mason jar manufacturing firm to Muncie from Buffalo in the 1880's, it was the predecessor of Ball Corporation.
William H. Ball graduated from Howe Military Academy in Indiana, Hillsdale College in Michigan and from the Cornell University School of Engineering in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1918. He served with the Army in France during World War I and afterward became associated with Ball Brothers Company, now Ball Corp., as secretary and vice-president prior to retiring in 1947. Following World War II, he was with the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington during the directorship of the late Gen. Walter Bedell Smith. In 1953 he served as personal representative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in ceremonies commemorating the Cecil Rhodes Central Africa Centenary.
In 1960, he and Mrs. Ball moved to Indianapolis, where he was the owner of several automobile dealerships including Auto Imports, Ltd; he constructed the original Indianapolis Volkswagon dealership on West 16th St. there.
He was chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis-based Haag Drug Company 1950-67. He was the first president of the Indianapolis Symphony Society, elected in 1936, and serving as chairman for several years; he was responsible for bringing Fabien Sevitsky to Indianapolis as symphony conductor following the retirement of Ferdnand Schaeffer. He was a founder and the first president of the Muncie Civic Theater Association, serving as the organization's chief executive 1931-1941.
Mr. Ball was an honorary board member of Ball Corporation and the Merchants National Bank of Muncie, after serving many years as an active board member. He was a trustee of Hanover College and Howe Military Academy, a member of several Masonic bodies in Muncie and of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, and a life trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He was a former active member of Muncie Rotary Club, and the American Legion , and he was a member of the Muncie Club, and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
He and his wife, Agnes Medsker Ball, who survives, sponsored a number of arts and musical events on the campus of Ball State while residing in Muncie. The Ball family home was at 52 Warwick Road in Westwood, now the site of the Baptist Student Foundation.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Agnes, are a daughter, Mrs. Sam (Lucina) Moxley, Indianapolis; a son, William H. Ball, Jr., Indianapolis; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be made at the Meeks Mortuary.
William Hudson Ball, Sr., 86, widely acquainted former Muncie civic leader and industrialist and Indiana philanthropist, died Friday evening in St. Vincent's Hospital at Indianapolis following several month's illness.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Ball came to Muncie at the age of three with his parents, William C. and Emma (Wood) Ball. William C., who died in 1924, was one of the five Ball brothers who moved their Mason jar manufacturing firm to Muncie from Buffalo in the 1880's, it was the predecessor of Ball Corporation.
William H. Ball graduated from Howe Military Academy in Indiana, Hillsdale College in Michigan and from the Cornell University School of Engineering in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1918. He served with the Army in France during World War I and afterward became associated with Ball Brothers Company, now Ball Corp., as secretary and vice-president prior to retiring in 1947. Following World War II, he was with the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington during the directorship of the late Gen. Walter Bedell Smith. In 1953 he served as personal representative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in ceremonies commemorating the Cecil Rhodes Central Africa Centenary.
In 1960, he and Mrs. Ball moved to Indianapolis, where he was the owner of several automobile dealerships including Auto Imports, Ltd; he constructed the original Indianapolis Volkswagon dealership on West 16th St. there.
He was chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis-based Haag Drug Company 1950-67. He was the first president of the Indianapolis Symphony Society, elected in 1936, and serving as chairman for several years; he was responsible for bringing Fabien Sevitsky to Indianapolis as symphony conductor following the retirement of Ferdnand Schaeffer. He was a founder and the first president of the Muncie Civic Theater Association, serving as the organization's chief executive 1931-1941.
Mr. Ball was an honorary board member of Ball Corporation and the Merchants National Bank of Muncie, after serving many years as an active board member. He was a trustee of Hanover College and Howe Military Academy, a member of several Masonic bodies in Muncie and of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, and a life trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He was a former active member of Muncie Rotary Club, and the American Legion , and he was a member of the Muncie Club, and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
He and his wife, Agnes Medsker Ball, who survives, sponsored a number of arts and musical events on the campus of Ball State while residing in Muncie. The Ball family home was at 52 Warwick Road in Westwood, now the site of the Baptist Student Foundation.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Agnes, are a daughter, Mrs. Sam (Lucina) Moxley, Indianapolis; a son, William H. Ball, Jr., Indianapolis; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be made at the Meeks Mortuary.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Ball came to Muncie at the age of three with his parents, William C. and Emma (Wood) Ball. William C., who died in 1924, was one of the five Ball brothers who moved their Mason jar manufacturing firm to Muncie from Buffalo in the 1880's, it was the predecessor of Ball Corporation.
William H. Ball graduated from Howe Military Academy in Indiana, Hillsdale College in Michigan and from the Cornell University School of Engineering in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1918. He served with the Army in France during World War I and afterward became associated with Ball Brothers Company, now Ball Corp., as secretary and vice-president prior to retiring in 1947. Following World War II, he was with the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington during the directorship of the late Gen. Walter Bedell Smith. In 1953 he served as personal representative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in ceremonies commemorating the Cecil Rhodes Central Africa Centenary.
In 1960, he and Mrs. Ball moved to Indianapolis, where he was the owner of several automobile dealerships including Auto Imports, Ltd; he constructed the original Indianapolis Volkswagon dealership on West 16th St. there.
He was chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis-based Haag Drug Company 1950-67. He was the first president of the Indianapolis Symphony Society, elected in 1936, and serving as chairman for several years; he was responsible for bringing Fabien Sevitsky to Indianapolis as symphony conductor following the retirement of Ferdnand Schaeffer. He was a founder and the first president of the Muncie Civic Theater Association, serving as the organization's chief executive 1931-1941.
Mr. Ball was an honorary board member of Ball Corporation and the Merchants National Bank of Muncie, after serving many years as an active board member. He was a trustee of Hanover College and Howe Military Academy, a member of several Masonic bodies in Muncie and of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, and a life trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He was a former active member of Muncie Rotary Club, and the American Legion , and he was a member of the Muncie Club, and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
He and his wife, Agnes Medsker Ball, who survives, sponsored a number of arts and musical events on the campus of Ball State while residing in Muncie. The Ball family home was at 52 Warwick Road in Westwood, now the site of the Baptist Student Foundation.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Agnes, are a daughter, Mrs. Sam (Lucina) Moxley, Indianapolis; a son, William H. Ball, Jr., Indianapolis; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be made at the Meeks Mortuary.
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