Willard "Buddy" Ball Obituary (1917 - 2011)

PALMYRA - Willard "Buddy" Joyce Ball passed away March 25, 2011 in St. Petersburg Florida after a brief illness. Buddy was born on July 28, 1917 in Brockton, Massachusetts to Ebenezer and Hilda (Joyce) Ball. Buddy graduated from Brockton High School. After high school, he served three years in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Wyoming before enlisting in the Army Air Force in 1941. Bud served until the end of World War II in 1945. His service took him to Gander, Newfoundland, the Azores Islands and Dow Field in Bangor. During this time he met his wife-to-be, Madeline "Tillie" Barker of Littleton. They were married in 1944 and moved to Pittsfield. In 1952, Buddy and Tillie bought a 30 acre farm on the Square Road in Palmyra to raise three boys who needed a lot of room. He was employed at the Pioneer Mill, Northeast Shoe Company, and Newhouse Poultry until retirement. He was a member of the American Legion and a founding board member of the original Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union with his good friend, Kenneth Shaw. Bud was a lover of the outdoors, enjoying hunting and fishing (especially striped bass), an avid golfer and bridge player and even impressed his friends with his moonshine. He built a lakeside camp on Moose Pond to give the three boys more free space. The centerpiece of the camp was his hand-built fieldstone fireplace. The camp became a frequent gathering point for barbeques and parties. Attendance was mainly done by boat leading to some interesting late night return trips. After raising their family, Buddy and Tillie enjoyed Caribbean cruises with their friends. Later in life they split each year between St. Petersburg, Florida and Palmyra. To Tillie, he was "the rock that held her together" and "the last of the gentlemen's gentlemen". He was a devoted husband and father. Buddy was pre-deceased by his brother Frederick Ball and his sister Doris Poole. He is survived by his wife, Madeline, his three sons William, Greg and Lary, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held this summer in Maine. In lieu of flowers, Buddy requested donations be made to The Pine Tree Society, P. O. 518, Bath, ME 04530 (http://www.pinetreesociety.org). Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport.