Al Ball
Al Ball, 81 of Signal Mountain, died on Saturday, May 30, 2015 after a brief illness of a year and a half.
He was the son of Bruce and Elsie Ball of Knoxville. He was born Aug. 2, 1933. He attended Knoxville Schools, in the Army from 1954-1956 and graduated from Carson-Newman College in 1959. He married Tweetie R. Holder of Pickens, S.C. the day after his college graduation. This Aug. 22 would have been their 56th year of marriage.
After graduating from Carson-Newman, he was pitching coach for one year at Carson-Newman. He taught and coached at schools in Jefferson City, Tn., Lakeland, Fl., and 20 years at Signal Mountain Junior High School. He taught and coached eight years at Red Bank High School. He coached football, basketball, baseball and taught PE at the junior high. At Red Bank High School he taught American History and coached boy’s basketball and golf.
He is survived by his wife, Tweetie, of 55 years, his son, Brad (Janice) Ball of Dublin, Ga., and daughter, Nikki Lynn Ball of Signal Mountain and loveable pet Libby.
His Celebration of Life Service will be held at Signal Mountain Baptist Church, 939 Ridgeway Ave, Signal Mountain at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 1. There will be no visitation. Private burial is at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
“Al Ball, a former Class D League pro baseball pitcher has reached out and touched thousands of lives on Signal Mountain whether he was cracking the whip in gym class, paddling some misguided soul for ‘misbehaving’, teaching boys and girls the rudiments of football, basketball and baseball; ‘Skimming somebody at the golf course or directing the communities summer recreation program.” (Adapted from article by Ward Gossett, sports writer, February 8, 1981.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a discipleship book being written by his son, Brad Ball, to be published by the start of 2016 and dedicated to his father, Al Ball. Make donations payable to Signal Mountain Baptist Church, 939 Ridgeway Ave, Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377.
Please share your memories at www.lanefh.com. Arrangements by Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace. 423-877-3524