William “Bill” Thomas Ball
William “Bill” Thomas Ball, 100, of Gray Court, passed away on May 2nd, 2019.
Mr. Ball was the son Thomas and Rebecca Ball and graduated from Gray Court Owings High School. After working on the family farm, Bill entered the Army Air Force in November of 1941. Trained as a B-24 Bomber Aircraft and Engine mechanic and as an Aerial Engineer Gunner, Bill worked as a member of the flight crew responsible for the mechanical function of the plane during flight and as a gunner in combat. Assigned to the 721st Squadron of the 450th Bomb Group in World War II, Bill flew over 25 combat missions primarily striking targets in Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Balkans.
After his separation from the Army Air Force, Bill attended Furman University in Greenville where he majored in speech. While at Furman Bill sang with the Furman Singers and enjoyed amateur radio. In 1953, Bill joined Lockheed Martin in Atlanta and worked with them until his retirement. Afterwards, Bill returned to Gray Court to enjoy his retirement years. Bill was a longtime member of Gray Court First Baptist Church and was a multi gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross. In addition, he was a Life Member of the 450th Bomb Group Association; a Lifetime Charter member of the World War II Memorial; a founding member of the American Air Museum in Britain; and a National Associate Member of The Smithsonian Institution.
A Graveside Service conducted by Rev. Randy Rush will be held on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 2:00 PM in Cannon Memorial Park.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials made to either: First Baptist Church Gray Court, 8443 Highway 14, Gray Court, SC 29645; or The Courage Center, 860 Park Road, Lexington, SC 29072.
Wow what a wonderful service record and life of service during and after the Military. Thank you Sir, Your march is over. Rest in Peace. Veterans of Foreign Wars District Four and VFW Post 9273 Donaldson Center Greenville, SC
Please accept my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the loss of your loved one. When you see an individual that has been able to achieve such a long and full life as Bill has, family members May wonder why did my loved one have to die it all. But God gives us his personal promise found in the Bible at Revelation 21:4, where God tells us that very soon he will do away with death and sickness from the Earth forever, and then he will resurrect Bill to perfect life here on a fully cleansed Earth, being reunited with family and friends and being able to experience life as God meant it to be, which has always been God’s purpose for mankind and for his earth.