William Ball

William M. Ball of Port Orchard, Washington died April 29, 2006 due to emphysema and heart failure. He was 84. He was born April 18, 1922 in Alpine, Oregon to Ted M. and Vivien Ball of Lincoln City, Oregon. William married Rayma (Johnson) Craven February 28, 2000 in Kona, Hawaii. He graduated from Alpine High School in Alpine, Oregon in 1940; and, attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon and Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. He served in the 8th Air Force from 1943-1945 (B-17 Top Turret Gunner; Distinquisted Flying Cross, four medals, ETO Service Medal, Five Battle Stars. He flew 50 missions over enemy territory in Germany dropping propaganda leafleets. He worked as an Electrical Engineer for Boeing for 36 years - retiring in 1982. He did design work on Boeing aircraft. He was a member of the Lutheran Church choir; performed in Issaquah Village Thearter production of "Carousel" as the captain; volunteered in B-17 Preservation Organization. William enjoyed travel with his wife to Hawaii and foreign countries. He is survived by wife - Rayma (Johnson) Craven; sons - Ted M. Ball (Yong) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Martin M. Ball of Shelton, Washington; daughter - Cheryl Ball Jurrus of Bellevue, Washington; brother - Roger Ball (Norma Jean) of Boring, Oregon; sister - Dorothy Morris (Stan) of Tigard, Oregon; 2 grandchildren (Elizabeth Jurrus of Salt Lake City, Utah & Christopher Ball of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma); step-daughters - Bonnie Blackwood of Port Orchard, Washington, Joyce Yost, and DeAnne Adams of Indianola, Washington; stepson - Bradley Craven of Port Orchard, Washington; step-grandson - Floyd Mathes, of Port Orchard, Washington. A memorial celebration of life service will be held Sunday, May 7, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Rill's Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard, Washington.