- Date Of Birth: December 13, 1929
- Date Of Death: December 15, 2013
- State: Indiana
Joseph R. “Joe” Ball, 84, of Bristol, gently departed this life at 7:50 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, at Center for Hospice Care Elkhart.
He was born on Dec. 13, 1929, in Elkhart, to the late Joseph S. and Helen R. (Lusher) Ball.
Joe and his high school sweetheart, Janeth M. McLaughlin, graduated from Elkhart High School in 1947 and both attended Indiana University in Bloomington.
They were married on Oct. 2, 1948, in Jeffersonville. They spent 55 wonderful years together until she passed on May 2, 2003.
In addition to his wife, a son, Joseph F. Ball, and sister Roseanne Ison preceded him in death.
Surviving are his children, Mindi Bair of Bristol and Gregg W. Ball of Bristol; two grandchildren, Jenna (Jordan) Mansfield and Jason (Julia) Obendorf; and great-grandson Micah Obendorf, all of Elkhart.
Joseph was in the car business for 37 years, and was one of the youngest Dodge-Chrysler dealers in the U.S., being appointed at age 29. During that time he served as past president of the Elkhart Auto Dealers Association and had various posts with the State of Indiana Auto Dealers Association.
After Joe retired from the car business in 1982, for the next 20 years he and Janeth operated a used furniture store on South Nappanee Street called “Beginners Luck.” These were some of their happiest times, until her health began to fail.
Joseph was a longtime member of Bristol United Methodist, where he taught Sunday school for many years. He also served for 11 years on the Elkhart School Board, and enjoyed that time in his life to serve children.
