Joe Ball

Services for Joe D. Ball, 68, Tyler, are scheduled for 10:00am, Tuesday, January 3, at Pollard United Methodist Church with Rev. Richard Luna and Dr. Jim Reiter officiating. Burial will be in Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Ball passed away Saturday, December 31, 2005 in Tyler after a lengthy illness. Joe Ball was born on January 15, 1937 in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1965 with a degree in Industrial Management. Joe enjoyed a long and prosperous career as a petroleum engineer, working for many drilling companies all over Texas. After finally settling in Tyler and working all over the East Texas area, he started his own petroleum consulting company, Joe Ball Petroleum Consultants, Inc., in 1983. He closed this company in 1999 when his health no longer permitted him to work in the oilfield. From 1999 until May 2005, he held several different positions within the ETMC family, but his favorite was with the Cancer Institute. He considered all of his coworkers to be a part of his family. He was "Employee of the Month" in February 2004 and finally retired in May 2005 due to deteriorating health. Joe was a loving husband, father, and brother with a giving heart ready to help family and friends. He was an involved member of Pollard United Methodist Church for almost 35 years serving on, and chairing, many committees. He was a member of several professional organizations during his engineering career including the SPE of AIME for which he served as president in 1977. Joe was an avid golfer, playing every chance he got, and never missing a tournament. During football season, he could be found wildly cheering for the Texas Longhorns. Lastly, he always enjoyed a good practical joke. Joe is survived by his loving wife of nearly 48 years, Barbara Ball, Tyler; his daughter, Shawn Ball Grant and son-in-law, Curtis Grant, Flower Mound; two grandchildren, Bryce and Joshua Grant of Flower Mound; sister, Sally Mea, Tyler; sister, Norma Walter and brother-in-law, George Walter, Tyler. Pallbearers are Joe Bowden, Jerry Cole, Johnny Harper, Art Johnson, Jerry LaBarba, Dr. James Lee, Jim Lozier, Ben McFadden, Frank Myrick and John Rader. Honorary pallbearers will be the Epworth Sunday School class of Pollard United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 5-7pm, Monday evening at Stewart Family Funeral home located at 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in south Tyler. If desired, memorials in honor of Joe Ball may be made to Tyler Hematology Oncology, PA, 721-A Clinic Drive, Tyler, Texas 75701 or to Pollard UMC, 3030 Copeland Road, Tyler, Texas 75701

Joe Ball

November 15, 1937 - December 31, 2005