Mr. James Donald Ball, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired), passed away peacefully on October 12, 2012 with his loving family by his side. He was born on November 17, 1930 in Loretto, KY. to the late Arthur and Christine Ball. He was a proud graduate of St. Joe Prep High School in Bardstown, and graduated from Spring Hill College, where he was a member of the baseball team.
Upon completion of College ROTC, he was commisioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army. After serving in the Army for two years, he returned home and joined his father and brothers in the family businesses. He retired as President of the Ball Brothers businesses. He was a past member of the Marion County Industrial Board, Board of Directors of Star (U.S.) Bank, Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Reserve Officers Association, Association of the Century (100th Division), and the St. Augustine Parish Council.
General Ball was a member of the Army Reserve for thirty years, advancing in rank from First Lieutenant to Brigadier General. This duty included one year of active Duty with the 100th Division at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas in 1961 to 1962. He was an outstanding military leader with suceessful commands from Company thru Brigade level. He was Assistant Division Commander of the 100th Division and retired as the Duputy Commander of the 83rd Army Reserve Command, Columbus, Ohio.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Arthur and Mary Christine Nelson Ball; two brothers, David and Garland Ball.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-five years, Aline Smith Ball, of Lebanon, KY; son, James Donald Ball, Jr, of Louisville, KY; four daughters, Kris (Ron) Horseman, of Danville, KY; Laura (friend Sammy Bradshaw), of Lebanon, KY; Rosemarie (Alfred) O'Daniel, of Raywick, KY; Allison (Kevin Ivey) Ball, of Orlando, FL; seven grandchildren, Cameron, Victoria, Lindsey, Logan, Lance, Zachary, and Ella Marie; four brothers, Nelson Ball, of Bardstown, KY, Rudy Ball, of Springfield, KY, Bernard Ball, of Lebanon, KY, and J.A. Ball, of Pennsylvania.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, officiated by Rev. Bill Bowling. Interment will be in the Lebanon National Cemetery with full Military Honors by the Marion County Honor Guard.

Visitations will be held after 4:00 p.m. Monday at Bosley Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening by Deacon Joe Dant.

Expressions of Sympathy may take the form of Contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, or the Multiple Sclerosis Association.