Darrell Ball

Darrell Vaughn Ball, 81, of Ottawa, Boone County, passed away Friday, February 26, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

Darrell was born June 1, 1934 in Foster, West Virginia. At the age of five he moved with his family to Ottawa, WV where he spent his childhood and teenage years.

In 1956, at the age of 22, he began a distinguished 21 – year career with the United States Army in Carson, Colorado. Like all men and women who serve their Country he traveled extensively, spending extended periods of time away from his family overseas in Germany, Korea and Vietnam.

While in Vietnam he earned several medals, including the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Darrell rarely spoke of his experiences in Vietnam but he did tell of being shot down and when it seemed all hope was gone with the enemy soldiers approaching, he and his crew members were rescued by another helicopter in the area and taken to safety.

In the course of his career he also received the following honors and medals: The Air Medal (1966), Army Commendation Medal (1971), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge (1969), Driver Mechanic Badge and the Meritorious Medal (twice). Darrell was particularly proud of training received at NASA and with Boeing on the YUH-61 A helicopter in 1974.

In 1970 he returned to Fort Eustis, Virginia where he completed his military service. He retired as an E 8 Master Sergeant from the Armed Forces of the United States on October 1, 1977.

Upon his retirement from the military Darrell returned to Ottawa. Not content to sit idle, he began a fifteen year career as a Security Guard at the Boone National/Boone County Bank in Madison, WV. He loved working with the public and missed his extended (bank) family when he retired in 1997.

Those closest to Darrell knew he loved to sing. Many Friday and Saturday nights were spent in his garage with family and friends sharing the microphone. He enjoyed traveling mountain back roads, but grieved at the many gates that have gone up preventing public access. He had the eyes of an eagle when it came to spotting molly moochers, squirrels and deer. Darrell was from that generation of men who knew something about everything. If you could reproduce the sound of a trouble engine he could tell you what part you needed to replace. He never did anything halfway and if you were working with him, neither did you. His attention to detail was legendary as was his work ethic.

If you see a cherry red 1962 Ford Galaxy 500 at a West Virginia car show, ask the new owner if this car was previously owned by a Boone County man and later by his younger brother Tommy Ball. It is probably the same car Darrell Ball and his family shared many memories in from Fort Hood, Texas, to Fort Benning, Georgia, Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, Oahu in Hawaii, Ft. Eustis, Virginia and finally to Ottawa, West Virginia in 1977.

Darrell was the unofficial Mayor of Ottawa a title he laughingly shared with his good friend Max Cook.

For over 38 years Darrell was caretaker of the family cemetery at Ottawa. He oversaw all burials during that time, keeping the cemetery lawn, headstones and access road beautifully maintained. This will be the final resting place of a wise and strong man overlooking his family home.

Darrell was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Carol K. Elkins Ball; son, Terry D. Ball; parents, Elza Lee and Lillie B. Ball; sisters, Diana Mullins and Eleanor “Dickie” Ball; brothers, Tommy Ball, Jimmy Ball, Rick Ball and Jim Ashby.

He is survived by sons, Brian (Vicki) Ball of Huntingtown, MD and their children Brian Ball Jr., Valeri Ball and Kirk Ball; David Dwain (Cathy) Ball of Columbia City, IN and children Marci Gass, Staci Shory, Jonie Robertson, Jamie Lynn Krohn and Josh Ball; son, Terry’s daughters, Jennifer Ball and Nikki Ball; Jim, (Kay) Ball of Clarksburg and daughter Leslie Harris; daughters, Debby Berry at home and children Christopher and Westley Berry; Teresa (Grant) Isaacs of Oldsmar, FL and Teresa’s daughter, Samantha Neely; brother, Ernest (Mary) Ball of Indianapolis, IN; nephew, James “Jimbo” Ball; and 30 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to acknowledge Darrell’s special friend Eleanor Wade. She was a shining light in his life as well as a great comfort to him. Special thanks to his nephew, Gary Ball and his wife Lisa for their love and devotion to Darrell. They would also like to thank Timmy and Vicky Turner for responding to many late night and early phone calls to help with his care. Thank you also to Chris “Cookie” Cook, Cody and Zach and the entire staff with the Boone County Ambulance Authority for accommodating an ever changing schedule and treating Darrell with such kindness and concern.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2016 at Handley Funeral Home, Danville.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Handley Funeral Home, Danville with the Rev. Don Austin officiating. Burial will follow in Ball Cemetery, Ottawa.