Col Michael Graham Ball, U.S. Army (Ret)

Col. Ball was born in Berkeley, CA in 1941. He was the oldest of three children of Wilbur G. Ball and Margaret G. Ball both of California. His family moved frequently as his father was an executive with Shell Oil Company. Col Ball attended St. Paul’s High School in Covington, Louisiana. In 1964 he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi where he was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha, Who’s Who in U.S Colleges and Universities, and the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation, Col. Ball joined the U.S. Army. He was a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War where he flew the L-19/O-1 Bird Dog.

Upon return from Vietnam he was stationed at Fort Benning, GA, and met Marilyn “Sissy”, a student at Auburn University. They married a year later at Fort Rucker, AL.

Col. Ball attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS and was later Commander of the 4th Squadron (Air) 9th Calvary at Fort Hood, TX. He then served at the Pentagon before attending the National War College at Ft. McNair, Washington DC in 1986. After graduation from War College he was promoted to Colonel and was assigned to HQ USEUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany.

Col. Ball returned to the U.S. in 1990 for duty at the Joint Doctrine Center in Norfolk, VA. In 1992, he retired from active military duty and built a retirement home in Pensacola, FL.

In 1996 Col. Ball began a career with Vinnell Corporation and served in Cairo, Egypt as second in command for program contract management. After serving for six years in Cairo he served for several years with Northrop Grumman Corporation conducting training for the Army and the National Guard.

Mike loved his home in Pensacola where he enjoyed his favorite past times: boating, fishing, crabbing, and working in the yard. He was a jack of all trades. He and his wife enjoyed many vacations together around the world, but he loved going to the Caribbean.

Mike and Sissy are the proud parents of a daughter, Michele Ball Finn. She and her husband, retired Naval Officer, CDR Michael Finn have twins, Elizabeth and Aidan (13), and Graham (10). They live in Peachtree City, GA.

Mike is also survived by his brother, Thomas S. Ball of New Orleans, LA, two nephews and two grandnephews and Sister Lauren E. Ball of Staten Island, NY.

A visitation for Col. Ball will be held at 3 pm at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church followed by a (memorial) funeral service at 4 pm. The church is located at 13660 Innerarity Point Rd, Pensacola, Fl.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the church’s Building Fund. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club at 5:30pm.

Col. Ball will be buried at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C..