Wellsville, NY - Thomas Coast Ball, 64, of Wellsville passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. He was born December 5, 1950 in Wellsville, the son of the late Richard C. and Patricia (Temple) Ball.
Thomas was a 1968 graduate of Wellsville High School; he attended Oklahoma State University and served in the U.S. Army between 1971-‘77. He worked on the Alyeska Pipeline and as an air traffic controller on Alaska’s North Slope. Tom found his position as cook/manager of the soup kitchen at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fairbanks between 1991-1995 to be very rewarding. Between 1996 – 2004, he owned Park’s Highway Express, a seasonal shuttle service for tourists between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali State Park. He was a former resident of Fairbanks, AK and Seattle, WA. Tom returned to Wellsville in 2007 and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church.
He is survived by four siblings, R. Michael (April) Ball of Placerville, CA, Dr. Barbara E. (Edward) Teter of Elma, NY, Stephen T. (Joan) Ball of Wellsville, and Teresa A. (Ron) Vida of Wellington NV, 9 nieces & nephews and will be fondly remembered by several great nieces & nephews. His friends, Aultman Cook of Seattle, WA, Margaret Kerton, Albert Kerton and Amy Wilcox of Wellsville were also considered family to our cherished brother. He was predeceased by a beloved nephew, James Michael Taylor. Tom was happiest when friends and family were gathered in his dining room, waiting for yet another of his fantastic home-cooked meals.
Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Mass for Tom and his mother Patricia, who passed away on December 25, 2014, on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church in Scio with Rev. Dennis Mancuso as Celebrant. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church, Attn: Beautification Fund, 17 Maple Avenue, Wellsville, NY 14895 or The American Legion, c/o Brent Roberts, 23 Jefferson St, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
RIP my friend
ReplyDeleteA good man
My deepest and most sincerest condolences to all of the Ball, Teter, and Vida families, and to all of Tom's closest friends. He was definitely one of a kind, and leaves not only wonderful memories for many, but also impacted many people lives in ways that I don't believe that he ever fully realized himself. I will miss him very much, but will always remember him with a smile and a laugh.
ReplyDelete“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
Farewell to a good friend. I knew Tom for many years as a co-worker on the Tans-Alaska Pipeline. He was always a cheerful person, with a hearty laugh and a very kind disposition. He will be missed. My condolences to the family
ReplyDeleteAs one if Tom's "Alaska Family", I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to Tom's real family. Tom was an incredibly generous and outgoing friend to myself and countless others, he was always there when someone needed a hand. He was also very adventurous, some of the best times of my life were because Tom invited me to go camping or fishing with him and his group of friends.
ReplyDeleteEach memory I have of Tom makes me happy that I knew him, I very much would like his family to know this.
My best regards to all of Tom and Patricia Ball's relatives.
As one if Tom's "Alaska Family", I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to Tom's real family. Tom was an incredibly generous and outgoing friend to myself and countless others, he was always there when someone needed a hand. He was also very adventurous, some of the best times of my life were because Tom invited me to go camping or fishing with him and his group of friends.
ReplyDeleteEach memory I have of Tom makes me happy that I knew him, I very much would like his family to know this.
My best regards to all of Tom and Patricia Ball's relatives.