Amelia Ball

Miss AMELIA BALL passed away Feb. 2, 2013, at the age of 92. She was born in Ravenden, Ark. in Lawrence County, Jan. 1, 1921. She was the third child of the late Dr. Ernest Ball Sr. and Mrs. Lizzie Steadman Ball. Amelia started at Ravenden Public School at the age of five; she completed three grades before the family moved to Detroit, Mich. There she entered the fourth grade at Field Elementary School. The depression came on and the family returned to Arkansas. Again she attended Ravenden Public School in the fifth grade. In the fall of 1931 the family moved to Vilonia, Ark., where her father continued practicing medicine. Amelia entered sixth grade at Vilonia Public School and graduated from the twelfth grade in May 1938. In the fall she entered Arkansas State Teachers College (UCA). She earned a BSE in Education in May 1947, and a Masters Degree from Memphis State University in Memphis, Tenn. in August 1958, also doing post graduate work at Vanderbilt George Peabody College For Teachers, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Ark. During the WWII Amelia worked a short time at Ford Bacon & Davis Ordinance Plant in Jacksonville, Ark. Amelia began her teaching career in a one room school four miles north of Vilonia, Ark., from there to Faulkner Gap, Morrilton School System, Pulaski County Special School District and finishing 30 years in the Little Rock Public Schools. Her teaching career spanned 42 years. Amelia was preceded in death by her late parents, a brother, Ernest Ball Jr., a sister, Helen Vivian Ball and a great nephew, Frank T. Besier. She is survived by a niece, Lee Ann Fincher, a great nephew, Michael Chase Fincher (Mandy) Brady Golden Fincher and two first cousins, Mary Alice Ball of Sacramento, Calif. and Floreine Spotts Guthrie of Paragould, Ark. Funeral services are 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway (501-327-7727), with burial following at Vilonia Cemetery. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Hospice Home Care, 2200 S. Bowman Road, Little Rock, Ark. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.