Clarence Stewart Ball

Clarence Stewart Ball peacefully departed this life on January 23, 2016 after a brief illness. He was born on August 20, 1925 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Otho Raymond Ball, Sr. and Laura Dean Tompkins Ball. His parents and brother, Otho Raymond Ball, Jr. predecease him. Clarence is survived by his beloved and devoted wife Ruth Lucinda Ball, daughter Marsha Loraine Ball Calloway, granddaughters Audrey Renee Calloway and Tiffany (Max) Nicole Calloway Starks, MD, great grandson Chase Clarence Calloway, and great granddaughters Waverley Ellis and Quincy Elise Starks. He is also survived by many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins who lovingly refer to him as Uncle Danny. Words cannot convey the magnitude of the life that Clarence S. Ball lived. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and retired having completed thirty years of active and inactive service. Clarence began his naval career as a Commissaryman (Ship's Cook). Over his twenty years of active duty, he received many deserved commendations from his commanding officers. Clarence was also presented with the National Defense Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Medal, the American Theatre Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. He often spoke of his experiences serving on the USS Saratoga, the USS Constellation CV 64, the USS Norton Sound AVM 1 to name a few. After retiring from the U.S. Navy as a Shipfitter First Class, Clarence began a career with Lazarus Department Store as a supervisor in shipping and receiving. Clarence met the love of his life, Ruth when she was eight years old and he was eleven while visiting family in Columbus. When he returned from his first tour of duty in the Navy, Clarence and Ruth were married June 12, 1946. Married sixty-nine years they celebrated many of their anniversaries with annual vacations in Las Vegas. Clarence was a generous man with a love of family and a wonderful sense of humor. He had a nickname and a joke for everyone. His nickname Uncle Danny was acquired while he was in the service after he sent his recorded version of “Danny Boy” home to family. Clarence enjoyed socializing and playing pool with family and friends as they often hosted the seasonal holiday parties in the basement of their Kelton Ave home.