Alfred Christopher Ball, better known as Al Ball died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at Wicomico Nursing Home in Salisbury. Born in Eden, Md., he was the son of the late Alton and Hilda Bloodsworth Ball.
Al was a loving husband, father and devoted grandfather and great-grandfather. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 50 years, Doris Tyndall Ball; three children: daughter, Susan Williams (Milt) of Wilmington, N.C., son, Andrew "Andy" Ball (Autumn) and daughter, Deborah Ball of Salisbury; six grandchildren: Christopher (Kennan) Eccleston of Salisbury, Brian Eccleston (Donald Ott) of Lewes, Stephen Nunzio of Wilmington, N.C., Drew Ball and Sam Ball of Salisbury and Elli Davis of Salisbury; two great-grandchildren, Hale Eccleston and Sadie Eccleston of Salisbury. Also surviving are his sisters-in-law, Mable Lee Ball of Eden and Darlene Vreeland of Milford; as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Al was preceded in death by a son, Billy Ball, who was killed in a car accident in 1977 and his recently deceased brother, Donald Ball of Eden.
He was a 53 year member of B.P.O.E. Lodge # 817 in Salisbury and was formerly a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church serving on the Board of Trustees. Al was currently a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Al was an avid vegetable gardener who enjoyed sharing his produce with friends and relatives and was always eager to share his knowledge and skills with friends who might be in need of help with a project. He loved being on the water to fish and crab. He enjoyed wood working, particularly refinishing furniture and carving ducks and also traveling. His greatest joy was spending time with his family.
Al was a 1953 graduate of Wicomico High School, Salisbury and graduated from several management and human relations courses at Salisbury State University and Delaware Technical and Community College. He served 5 ½ years active duty in the U.S. Army in the Military Police and Signal Corps and 3 ½ years were spent in Dahn, Germany.
Al was associated with the poultry business for 41 years. He was employed at Perdue, Inc. in Salisbury for 28 years, serving in many capacities. He assisted in expansion as well as construction of processing plants in Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina and Virginia. He started as Assistant Grain Storage Superintendent and later became the Maintenance Manager, Plant Superintendent and Plant Manager of the Salisbury Processing Plant. He was transferred to Lewiston, N.C. to design and build the poultry processing plant of which he became manager. While constructing the 150,000 square-foot plant, he supervised the hiring and training of all supervisors. New plant start-up was said to be one of the best in the poultry industry. He returned to Salisbury in the Engineering Department. As Senior Process Engineer he was project manager for many of Perdue's major expansions and renovations. He did layouts and renovations of the first roaster plant in the world.
Obtaining a 15-month leave of absence, Al was General Manager at Conaway Processing Equipment in Seaford, directing the manufacturing and sales of poultry processing equipment.
For seven years, Al was Director of Engineering, Vice President of Corporate Services for Townsends, Inc. in Millsboro, retiring in 1997. For the next 5 years, he was Consulting engineer for Case Foods, Inc. in Salisbury.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at Wicomico Nursing Home for their consistent, loving care that was given to Al.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 112 High St., Salisbury, Md. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Rev. Dale Vroman will officiate. Interment will be private. A reception will follow the service.
Contributions may be made in his memory of Al to Dove Pointe Foundation, Inc., c/o Donald Hackett, PO Box 1610, 1225 Mt. Hermon Rd., Salisbury, MD 21802-1610.
Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Rd., Salisbury, MD 21804. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.hollowayfh.com