James Gordon Ball

James Gordon Ball, 80, of the Newfound Community, Leicester, died Tuesday, February 25, 2003, at the Asheville VA Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Ball was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late John E. and Bricey C. Ball. He was married to Leo Plemmons Ball who died in 1988. He was a former prizefighter and served as a sergeant in the US Marine Corps during WW II. He was a member of the DAV, the VFW and the American Legion. He loved animals, especially his dog Bubba. Surviving are one sister, Virginia Ball Owenby of Winston-Salem, three nieces, Peggy Allen, Penny Darata, and Joan Easton, and four nephews, Thomas Bryson, Jerry and Roger Ball and Steve Owenby. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Friday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack W. Collins officiating. Burial will be at Grace United Methodist Church Cemetery. His family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Carroll Shook, 1064 Newfound Road, Leicester, NC 28748 or to the American Diabetes Association, 434 Fayetteville Street Mall, Two Hanover Square, Suite 1600, Raleigh, NC 2701.