Leonard Luther Ball

Leonard Luther Ball passed away peacefully on February 28, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with a number of health issues.

Born and raised in the Heights, attending Helms Elementary, Hamilton Jr. High and John H. Reagan High School, he never moved far from his roots. Reagan H.S. had an unusually high number of young men die in WWII and for years he talked of a monument honoring their sacrifice and memory. He talked-up his idea to Reagan classmates at their reunions gaining supporters and made the first sizeable donation to kick-off the project. Dedicated on November 7, 1999 the Houston Heights WWII Memorial Plaza stands on Heights Blvd. at 11th Street. He demanded his release from the hospital following open heart surgery so he could attend the event in a wheel chair.

Never to be idle, in his early years he worked in the family grocery store, delivered papers for the Houston Press, and was a soda jerk and made deliveries for Ward's Drugstore on 19th, not far from one of his favorite spots, Bender's Hamburgers.

As a young man he went to work at Todd Shipyard and for his ability as an outstanding mechanic, welder, leader and teacher among coworkers he soon became foreman. When WWII broke out he wanted to leave the shipyard to join the war effort but was denied enlistment in the Army and told his skills were needed more at the shipyard. Soon he found a way, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps and achieving the rank of Sergeant. While stationed at Ellington Field he was injured loading supplies onto planes for our troops, fracturing his spine in two places. Being a man of self-reliance and determination he would not claim any government benefits for his injury at any time during his lifetime although pain from his injuries plagued him for the rest of his life. As soon as he was able he returned to shipbuilding and supporting the war effort.

After the war, he went to work for Universal Engineering, learning the oil business from the ground up. He did it all, from working in the shop to running bits to rigs throughout Texas and Louisiana. He married the love of his life, LaVerne, on December 12, 1942. He founded Ball Oil Tool in 1951 which continues today as Ball Tool Co. He retired in 1985 but never slowed down, building a house, restoring antique and classic cars and doing anything else that did not remind him of retirement.

Leonard, 94, born August 17, 1920, is preceded in death by his parents John L. and Tennie A. Ball, and rejoins his brothers Clayton and James who were killed eight days apart during WWII. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, LaVerne (Schacherl), daughters Carol Parker and husband John, Judy Scruggs and husband Jerry, and son Len and wife Susan. Grandchildren, John Parker III (Sandra), Jackie Scruggs Jimenez (Alex), Jeanette Scruggs Muenchow (Kevin), Len Allan Ball and James Clayton Ball. Great-grandchildren, Paige Parker, Jacob Jimenez and Rowan Jimenez, and Zachary Muenchow.