Obituary of Joe M. Ball

Dr. Joe M. Ball (93), Ph.D., died at 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 27, 2013, at Southwoods Assisted Living Community in Titusville, PA. Born February 10, 1920, in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Dr. Ball was the son of William Henry and Myrtle E. Ball who both taught a UTEP and its predecessor Texas Western for many years. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and received his Ph.D. in General Speech with emphasis on Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1951. He met his future wife, Norma Schouweiler, while a graduate student at USC. She preceded him in death on Nov. 7, 2009. Dr. Ball graduated from El Paso High School and served in the United States Navy with the Amphibious Forces, South Pacific assigned to the U.S.S. President Adams from 1943-1945, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade. He served as beach master in combat in several theaters of operation including Luzon, Guam, Iwo Jima and Bougainville. He received five battle stars and a Letter of Commendation following the landing on Guam. He moved to Pittsburgh with his wife Norma in 1949 where he accepted a position in the Speech Department of the University of Pittsburgh. He rose to the rank of professor of speech with tenure. He also provided public speaking consulting services to senior executives and staff at a number of major corporations including Bell Telephone, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, U.S. Steel and Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. In 1963, he became the founding president of the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. He worked closely with state representatives, members of the Titusville community, the main Pittsburgh campus, and the Titusville faculty to launch the fledgling campus. He developed vibrant and diverse academic programs. He ended his university career as a faculty member on a Semester at Sea world cruise sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. Subsequently, the first dormitory at the Titusville Campus was renamed “The Dr. Joe M. Ball Residence Hall”. He and his wife Norma retired in 1983 and remained in Titusville on East Main Street. The youngest member of the noted Ball tennis family of El Paso, Dr. Ball retained a life-long passion for the sport of tennis. He was an accomplished player, having won numerous tournaments in his youth including the Southwestern boys’ singles title and the Southwestern men’s doubles with his brother Russell. He received a varsity letter from the University of Texas, and he continued to play competitively as an adult, winning among other tournaments the Allegheny County, PA men’s doubles with John Bowers. Subsequently, he taught his children to play and teamed with his sons (Joe, George, and Bill) to participate in numerous PA and NY regional doubles tournaments. He remained active in the sport until shortly before his death. He is survived by three sons and a daughter, Dr. William A. Ball and his wife Dr. Rachel Ball of Wallingford, PA, Joe M. Ball, Jr., and his wife Rosemary of Lake Elsinore, California, Eda E. Scales and her husband, Kemp Scales, Esq., of Titusville, and George L. Ball, Esq., and his wife, Gail, of Richmond, Virginia. He has 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Jackie Ball of Kent, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, George H. and Russell E. Ball. An excellent flute player, he sustained a lifelong interest in music of various kinds including classical, big band, religious hymns, and pop. Brahams’ symphonies were among his favorites. He enjoyed travel, particularly long automobile trips to the Western United States to attend family reunions in El Paso, Texas, Idaho, Wyoming, and California. He was especially fond of local Titusville family reunions at Falling Water Farm. The funeral service will be conducted on Friday at 10:00 AM at St. James Memorial Episcopal Church in Titusville, PA. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville. The family asks that memorials be made to St. James Memorial Episcopal Church 112 E. Main St. Titusville, PA 16354 or to The Titusville Promise c/o Titusville Alumni Association 302 E. Walnut St. Titusville, PA 16354. The Titusville Promise is a scholarship foundation aiding students to study at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.