Fred Ball

Other Events:

• Occupation: Funeral Director - Undertaker
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-173772
• Residence: 1943, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1964, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

William Orra Ball Passes

A long-time Ayr businessman William Orra Ball of Galt passed away January 1st in South Waterloo Memorial Hospital, Galt. He was in his 92nd year. Born in Roseneath, Ontario, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Ball. He came to Ayr in 1906. His father was a funeral director and operated a furniture store where the Empress Room is now located. William Ball helped his father and also was a harness maker, having a shop in the west end of the same building. He later took over the funeral business from his father. In later years, he moved the funeral parlour into his home, corner of Mitchell and Swan Streets. In 1971 he moved to Galt. Mr. Ball was a charter member of 1.0.0.F. Lodge. Ayr; member of Knox United Church. Ayr; and member of a Galt senior citizens group. Surviving are his wife, the former Ida M. Plant; three sons George of Dundas, Jack of Ayr and Fred of Galt; and Ruth at home; two sisters Mrs. Flora Vincent of Ayr and Mrs. Lyle (Gertrude) Smiley of Vancouver; and six grandchildren. Predeceased by two sisters and a brother. Funeral and committal services were held Monday, January 3rd at Little's Funeral Home, Galt. Rev. D. E. Willis of Ayr officiated. Interment in Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News 6 Jan 1977 pg 7

Occupation:
1948-1952
Dreisinger Accounts Receivable ledger, pp. 150-151
W. O. Ball, Ayr
May 5 1948-April 23, 1952
Hearse Services: most are $16.


1955-1961
Dreisinger Accounts Receivable ledger
W. O. Ball,
January 28, 1955-December 2, 1961; occasionally.
Hearse Rentals: $20

submitted by Marion Roes 2015

William married Ida May Plante 17 May 1914, Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada. Ida was born 25 Dec 1887, Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 12 Mar 1988, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ida May Ball
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-173777

Notes:

Ball, Ida M. At Hilltop Manor, Cambridge on Saturday, March 12, 1988, Ida Ball (nee Plant), in her 101st year. Beloved wife of the late William O. Ball. Dear mother of John of Ayr and Fred of Waterloo. Predeceased by a son George and daughter, Miss Ruth Ball....Her husband William, was the funeral director in Ayr for many years.

K-W Record, Mar. 14, 1988

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Mrs. William O. Ball

A former Ayr resident, Mrs. William 0. Ball, passed away at Hilltop Manor, Galt, on Saturday, March 12th. Mrs. Ball was in her 101st year, having celebrated her 100th birthday on December 25th. Born in Harriston, she was the former Ida May Plant, and came to Ayr in her early twenties. Her late husband operated a funeral business in Ayr for many years. Mrs. Ball was a member of Knox United Church, Ayr and former member of Ayr Women's Institute. Besides her husband she was predeceased by a son George, a daughter Ruth and two sisters. Surviving are two sons John of Ayr and Fred of Waterloo; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law Mrs. Lenora Ball of Dundas. Private funeral service was held at Little's Funeral Home, Galt. Interment in Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News 16 Mar 1988 pg 13

Other Events:

• Name: O. T. Ball
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-194847
• Occupation: 1906, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Funeral Director
• Occupation: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Retail - Furniture
• Residence: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

Death of O. T. Ball, Well-Known Business Man of Ayr Passes on Thursday in His 81st Year

It was with something of a shock that the citizens of the community learned on Thursday of the passing of O. T. Ball, who has conducted an undertaking establishment here for the past 37 years. Mr. Ball had been in ill health for some time and but little hope was held out for his recovery. The late Mr. Ball was a familiar figure on the streets of the village, where he will be much missed. He was widely known throughout the district and his passing will be regretted by many friends. Mr. Ball was born in Coburg, and resided in Norwood for a short period before coming to this village. He was a member of Knox United Church. Surviving are his wife, Jennie Varcoe; one son, William, at home; four daughters, Mr. L. C. Vincent (Flora) of Ayr; Mrs. L. c. Elms (Hilda), Detroit; Mrs. L. C. Smiley (Gertrude Maude), North Bay, and Mr. L. B. Sifton (Addie), St. Thomas; two sisters, Mrs. William Wright, Campbellcroft, and Mrs. Alex Pratt, Pot Hope; and eleven grandchildren. One son, Wesley, died in 1916, and two brothers, John and Robert, and one sister, Eliza, also predeceased him.

Ayr News, January 14, 1943, p. 9

Osborne married Jennifer Almera Varcoe 6 Feb 1884, Alnwick Twp., Northumberland Co., Ontario. Jennifer was born 4 Dec 1862, Roseneath, Northumberland Co.., Ontario; died 28 Aug 1964, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada; was buried 31 Aug 1964, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jennifer Almera Ball
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-194848
• Residence: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

Mrs. O. T. Ball Passes In Her 102nd Year

The community was saddened on Friday by the death at Paris Nursing Home of Mrs. Osborne T. Ball, Ayr's oldest citizen, in her 102nd year.

The former Jennifer Varcoe, she was born in Roseneath, Ont., on December 4, 1862, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Varcoe.

Following her marriage in 1884, the couple farmed for several years in the Roseneath area, prior to moving to Norwood where Mr. Ball operated a novelty shop for about three years.

In 1906 they came to Ayr, where Mr. Ball conducted an undertaking and furniture establishment for many years in what is now the Oddfellows' building on Stanley St. He passed away in 1942.

Until her 100th birthday, Mrs. Ball had been ill only once when she suffered an attack of typhoid fever 46 years ago.

Mrs. Ball was a member of Roseneath Methodist Church in her younger years and later was an adherent of Knox United Church. She was an active member of the former Ladies' Aid Society in the church and took a deep interest in the work of the Ayr Women's Institute.

Some years ago Mrs. Ball fractured her hip in a fall and was confined to Brantford Hospital for eight months, following which she became a resident of Paris Nursing Home.

In spite of advancing years, Mrs. Ball retained good hearing and vision and gave up knitting, at which she excelled; only a few years ago.

As the years went by, Mrs. Ball's birthdays became a marked local event, and on the occasion of the 100th milepost she received the congratulations of the Queen, as well as national, provincial and local government leaders. Her kindly disposition was an outstanding characteristic which won her the friendship and respect of all, and her passing is a district loss to our community.

Surviving are a son William O. Ball, Ayr; three daughters, Mrs. L.C. (flora) Vincent, Ayr; Mrs. L.C. (Hilda) Elms, Courtright, and Mrs. L.C. (Gertrude) Smiley of Rocklyn, near Meaford; one sister, Mrs. William Heal of Peterborough; 10 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Wesley ball, and a daughter, Mrs. L.B. (Addie) Sifton.

The Funeral

Funeral service was held on Monday at the W.O. Ball Funeral Home, operated by her son. Rev. W.J.V. Buchanan officiated and interment was made in the Ayr Cemetery.

Pallbearers were grandsons: Lyle Sifton of St. Thomas, George Ball of Dundas, Fred Ball of Galt, Jack Ball, Warren Vincent and Marlen Vincent of Ayr.

Ayr News Sep 3 1964 pg 1

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Mrs. O. T. Ball, Ayr's grand old lady of 100 years, spent some of the most glorious hours of her life on Tuesday, December 4th, 1962, when her venerable lifespan of a century was recognized by Queen Elizabeth and the heads of all levels of Canadian government.

Although confined to bed at the Paris Nursing Home for several years, Mrs. Ball was bubbling over with excitement and interest as the honors were heaped upon her.

First came the congratulatory message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, then a letter from Rt. Hon. John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada. Messages also arrived from Lester B. Pearson, from Gordon Chaplin, M.P. for South Waterloo, and Larry Pennell, M.P. for Brant-Haldimand.

Mrs. Robert Nixon, wife of Robert Nixon, M.P.P. for Brant, arrived to present Mrs.Ball with a handsomely framed scroll from the Ontario government, signed by Provincial Secretary John Yaremko, extending congratulations.

A few days previous, Reeve Mildred Gillies had presented a bouquet of roses, on behalf of the Village of Ayr, which were blooming magnificently in the room.

Cards and letters poured In all during the day and were each given attention by Mrs. Ball.

Of course, all the family members were present including the surprise visit of her two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Varcoe of Owosso, Michigan, who carries her 91 years lightly, and Mrs. Fannie Heal of Peterborough, a sprightly 83.

These two charming ladies exemplified the remarkable longevity enjoyed in the family, for among the three sisters were 274 years of happy memories.

Daughters, Mrs. L.C. Elms of Courtright and Ayr; Mrs. L. C. Smiley of Rocklyn; and Mrs. L.C. Vincent of Ayr, were present, along with her son, Mr. W. O. Ball, and many of the ten grandchildren, and twenty-seven greatgrandchildren .
Late in the day, with the festivities past, Mrs. Ball settled back to her quiet, comfortable way of life, but with this added wonderful memory to treasure.

With Mrs. Ball, in the above picture, is her daughter, Flora, Mrs. L.C. Vincent, and her grandson, Mr. 'Warren Vincent, of Ayr, Ontario.

Mrs. Ball passed away quietly August 28th, 1964, in her 102nd year. Funeral service was held at, the W.O. Ball Funeral Home, operated by her son. Rev. W.J.V. Buchanan officiated and interment was made in the Ayr Cemetery.

Women's Institute, Ayr Chapter