HORACE ARTHUR BALL

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HORACE ARTHUR BALL 1920 2013 Peacefully on Monday, February 4, 2013 at Oakview Nursing Home, Winnipeg, Art Ball passed away at the age of 92 years. Art was predeceased by his son Tom Ball, and his parents Tom and Lillian Ball. He was also predeceased by his granddaughter Danielle Ball, brother Donald, sister Peggy Jagger, nephew Gary Ball, daughter-in-law Diane Ball, his sisters-in-law, and former wife, Mary Theresa McDonell (Dorash). Left to cherish his memory are his children Larry, Ken, Jim (Lori), Arthur, Theresa (Dwight) Wolfe, Stephen (Dru), Dorothy (Kevin) Blight, Miriam (Roger) Cavenaille and Gordon (Maria); brothers Tom, David, and Doug and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren of which he was very, very proud. Art was born on December 8, 1920 in Winnipeg, MB to Tom and Lillian Ball. He attended Britannia and Assiniboine schools in St. James. Later he attended the Manitoba Institute of Technology to learn carpentry and surveying trades. He also took a correspondence course in surveying while he worked and lived on the Scaife farm at St. Francis Xavier (where he met his future wife Theresa McDonell). Art joined the R.C.A.F. in Winnipeg on September 1, 1939. He was then transferred to the #5 Bomber Squadron (Flying Boats) in Nova Scotia. In 1941 he was transferred to the #10 Bomber Squadron in Newfoundland. He was trained as an airframe mechanic and his position on the aircraft was the Rigger Gunner. In 1943 he was transferred to the R.C.A.F. Flying School at Dauphin, Manitoba. He was the Sergeant in charge of the airframe mechanics who overhauled the trainer aircraft. In 1945 he was transferred to the R.C.A.F. Winnipeg Repair Depot. Here he was responsible for the overhaul of the controls in a "Liberator" bomber which was to be converted for passenger transport. After being discharged from the Air Force, Art worked in the carpentry trade. Being a natural born leader, he soon became the foreman and later the superintendent on many projects including buildings, dams and his favourite, bridges. As a child he was fascinated with construction projects, especially bridges. One of his special memories, was of going down to the river after school to watch the work on the construction of the footbridge from St. James to the City Park. His father usually had to come looking for him! Some of the projects he worked on over the years were highway bridges on the TransCanada Highway from Ontario to Saskatchewan; river span bridges at St. Vital, St. Adolphe, Aubigny; Seine River Syphon and Drop Structure; Seine River Diversion; RR bridge over the Floodway; highway bridges at Solsgirth and Birtle; Symington Yard overpass; PFRA dams for the Bow River Development in Alberta; Customs and Immigration building at the International Peace Gardens; Thompson Airport Control Tower; and the Nuclear Power Plant at Pinawa. While stationed in Nova Scotia, he married Mary Theresa McDonell on February 4, 1940. They moved back to Winnipeg where they raised their 10 children in the family home in Charleswood. Dad loved his home at 4216 Roblin Blvd. and lived there for 66 years. His yard was a sanctuary for the many deer who stopped in for a visit. He missed "4216" greatly when he moved in to Oakview Nursing Home. However, he was well-cared for there by wonderful staff. Special thanks to Nadine McLean on the 3rd floor who was a friend to my Dad and to all of us when we came to visit. Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa we will miss you always! Funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home. Interment following. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.ca 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 06, 2013