Friday, December 11, 2015

Farewell, Brother Dick Ball

Richard (“Dick”) James Ball passed away quietly at his Salt Lake City home on December 8, 2015 at the age of 84.  Born in Idaho Falls, ID three days after Christmas in 1930, Richard was a special gift to his parents Leonard Garfield and Sybil Frongner Ball, as the youngest of their 14 children. Richard grew up in Ammon but went to high school in Idaho Falls where he excelled as a basketball player and where he met Bonnie Rae Matthews, who he called the love of his life.  When he reached the appropriate age, he was called to serve a mission in Germany, while Bonnie waited at home. On May 7, 1954 the two were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple, spending 60 years of their eternity together until she passed in March of 2014.

Richard and Bonnie lived in Provo while Richard earned his degree from BYU and Bonnie taught Home Education at Provo High School. After graduation, Dick and Bonnie moved with their children, Deborah and Bradford, to Tustin, CA near Richard's parents who had moved to Long Beach. Richard worked in banking for most of his career in Southern California and in Utah.

The family moved to St. George in 1972 and settled in Bloomington so Richard could pursue his passion for golf and where in those early years, he could walk out of his backyard and start a round. Richard’s love of golf is only surpassed by his love of family including daughter Deborah Roberts of Salt Lake City and son Bradford (Tracy) Ball of Gilbert, AZ.  He also leaves behind five beloved grandchildren and five precious great-grandchildren; two sisters and a sister-in-law.
  
His quiet, unassuming personality and friendly smile will be missed by those neighbors, friends and ward family members who knew and loved him.

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