1947
George
2017
George Leon Ball
February 22, 1947 — September 16, 2017
George Leon Ball Sr., 70, passed away September 16, 2017 while at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. He was born on February 22, 1947 in Madisonville, KY to the late David Lewis Ball and Elma Josephine Scroggins. George was a big Harley Davidson enthusiast and enjoyed riding every chance he got. He dearly loved his family with all his heart, and was ALWAYS there when you needed him, no questions asked.
George was retired from the United States Army where he served three tours in the Special Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade Sept, which was the first United States Army ground combat unit committed to the Vietnam war. He had over 3,000 jumps in his military career with HALO jumps included in those. In HALO (high altitude – low opening) jumping, the parachutist opens their parachute at a low altitude after a free fall, so the aircraft could fly above surface-to-air missile engagement levels and minimize the parachutist's exposure time in the sky. George was part of 16 different missions with a few of them being Battle of the Hump (1965), Warzone Delta (1965), Ho Bo Woods (1966) and Korea (1976). Although he had earned to many honors and medals to list, he was most proud of the Bronze Star (given for heroic achievement), Silver Star (given for valor in combat), and 5 different Purple Hearts (given for those wounded or killed while serving). George cared for his brothers in arms like they were his own family, and he truly would have been considered a modern-day Viking.
He was also preceded in death by brothers, James Ball, Linden Marshall Ball, and Gerald Ball (infant).
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Maja (Abbey) Ball; daughter, Amanda; sons, Lee Ball (Ellen), and John Ball; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; sister, Rita Stallings; and a brother Dallas Lindsey.
Visitation will be 1 till 4 PM Friday, September 22, 2017 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Inurnment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.glenncares.com
George was retired from the United States Army where he served three tours in the Special Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade Sept, which was the first United States Army ground combat unit committed to the Vietnam war. He had over 3,000 jumps in his military career with HALO jumps included in those. In HALO (high altitude – low opening) jumping, the parachutist opens their parachute at a low altitude after a free fall, so the aircraft could fly above surface-to-air missile engagement levels and minimize the parachutist's exposure time in the sky. George was part of 16 different missions with a few of them being Battle of the Hump (1965), Warzone Delta (1965), Ho Bo Woods (1966) and Korea (1976). Although he had earned to many honors and medals to list, he was most proud of the Bronze Star (given for heroic achievement), Silver Star (given for valor in combat), and 5 different Purple Hearts (given for those wounded or killed while serving). George cared for his brothers in arms like they were his own family, and he truly would have been considered a modern-day Viking.
He was also preceded in death by brothers, James Ball, Linden Marshall Ball, and Gerald Ball (infant).
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Maja (Abbey) Ball; daughter, Amanda; sons, Lee Ball (Ellen), and John Ball; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; sister, Rita Stallings; and a brother Dallas Lindsey.
Visitation will be 1 till 4 PM Friday, September 22, 2017 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Inurnment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.glenncares.com
To send flowers to the family in memory of George Leon Ball, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, September 22, 2017
1:00 - 4:00 pm (Central time)
Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory
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