Plan for the Future
John E. Ball
07/21/1940 – 09/22/2018
John “Jack” Ball, 78, of Chatham NJ peacefully passed away on September 22, 2018 at Morristown Hospital in the company of his family.
Born in Pottsville, PA, the middle son of the late Edward and Katherine Ball, John was the beloved husband to the late Gail Howarth for 48 years. John is a proud Army Military Police veteran, served active duty in Korea, and was a professional truck driver for over five decades. John and Gail raised two children, Richard Ball and Cindy Ball Wilson, in Hillside NJ. He was an integral part of the lives of his four granddaughters Megan (25), Nicole (22), Samantha (22), and Mackenzie (13)
After moving to Chatham, John became active in the community and greatly enjoyed the comradery and friendships he developed within the local neighborhood. He loved being part of the Chatham Farmers Market where he volunteered for over 10 years and rarely ever missed a Saturday morning. He was also a proud volunteer for the Chatham Emergency Response Team (CERT).
John was an avid NY Mets fan through their best and worst years, and he proudly did everything he could to raise the next generation of fans. John greatly enjoyed the social side of his community. Whether it was morning coffee at QuickCheck, a drink at Prospect Tavern, or a smoke in the parking lot, he appreciated the places “where everybody knew your name”. He truly enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors.
John departed this world loving his family, loving his community, and loving this country. There was never a day he wouldn’t wave the American flag, there was never a holiday where he wouldn’t honor our country’s veterans. His life is best memorialized through the community bench dedicated in his honor stating “John E. Ball, Civic Service, Army Veteran, Patriot”. John is now in better place with Gail, a place that he’s been looking forward to for many years. He will be sorely missed; may he rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory can be made to:
Funeral Home: Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St. Chatham, NJ
Visitation Hours: Tuesday, September 25, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Prayer Service: Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 8:00 PM