Armand Baer Ball Jr.

He graduated high school with honors in his hometown of Dubach, Louisiana. He received his degree in Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College, 1951, Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1953 and Master of Science from George Williams College of Aurora University, 1960.

Armand served as the Royal Ambassador Director for the Florida Women’s (Baptist) Missionary Union, directing their boys’ camps, 1953-1957, Program Director, for Woodlawn Boys’ Club in Chicago, IL 1957-1958; Youth and Camp Director for the YMCA of Nashville, TN 1958-1962; Director of the Camp Widjiwagan Branch of the St. Paul YMCA (MN) 1962-1974; Executive Vice President then Chief Executive Officer, American Camping Association, Martinsville, IN 1974-1988 where he served until his retirement in 1988.

Together, Armand and his wife, Beverly, wrote nine editions of Basic Camp Management, a book that has been translated into multiple languages and has served as a textbook for university and international camp courses for more than 40 years.

In 1988, he co-founded the International Camp Fellowship, now composed of camp leaders for over 200 countries. As recognized experts in the field, he and his wife Beverly, taught courses for camp directors in countries around the world.

Upon retirement, the Ball’s moved to Sanibel Island, Florida where they devoted over two decades of volunteer service to various community organizations, including the YMCA, SCCF, CHR, CROW, Ding Darling and the City of Sanibel. He was a leader in constructing the Recreation Center and one of the first below market rate communities on Sanibel Island.

He is predeceased by his parents, Armand Baer and Lovera Sanderson Ball, his devoted wife and companion Beverly Jane Ball (Hodges), two children, Kathryn Ball and Robin Ball and one niece, Beverly Barefield. He is survived by one beloved daughter, Helen (Peter) Pound, six grandchildren, Nicole (Kenny) Sterrett, Stephanee (Scott) Stephens, Rachel (Michael Mull) Pound, Rhyan Ball, Lyndsey (Brad) Witter and Jonathan Pound, five great grandchildren, five great great-grandchildren, niece, Jan Barefield and nephew, Clarke Barefield, Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at Cypress Cove Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Armand and Beverly Ball Family Endowment Fund for YMCA Camp Widjiwagan: https://www.ymcanorth.org/give