Walter Ball, 88, of Cleveland, passed away Monday, March 14, 2011, at his residence.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945, from the South Pacific to the Bering Sea.

He was an active member of First Lutheran Church for 59 years. He was also a member of the Valley View Ruritan Club.

He was a retired superintendent of Dillard Smith Construction Co. He was also a 60-year member of the IBEW Local 175 and a lifelong cattle producer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lou Ella Wooten Ball; wife, Elaine Ball; brothers: Jessie, Bill, Joe, Alvin and Ralph Ball; sisters: Nellie Ball and Essie Ball Cox; and his infant son, Walter F. Ball Jr.

He is survived by his children: Gary Ball and wife, Peggy, and daughter Patricia (Patsy) Runion and husband, Titus, all of Cleveland; four grandchildren: Shelia Runion of Tampa, Fla., Mark Runion and wife, Deana, of Cleveland, Timothy Runion of Los Angeles, and Michelle Cross and husband, Jeremy, of Cleveland; four great-grandchildren: Lillian, Dilan, Alyssa and Josalyn Cross; sisters: Ita Lacy of Cleveland and Anna Ball White of Lookout Mountain; sister-in-law, Kathryn Ball of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with Pastor Robert Seaton officiating.

Interment will follow at Cedar Springs Cemetery.

Gene Cox, Jimmy Goins, John Foy, Ronnie Ball, Mark Runion and Timothy Runion will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, 195 McIntire St. N.E., Cleveland, TN 37312.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 this evening at the funeral home.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Ball family guest book at www.fikefh.com.