Walt Ball has sadly passed away 4-14-12

 Walt and Viginia Ball 2011(photo by Sandy Rollings)

“Since moving here, both Walt and Virginia have been a great asset to the community and were active in many local organizations,” said President of the Copperopolis Community Center Sandy Rollings.

When Walt retired from the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1990 he and his wife Virginia made Copperopolis their home. Walt had spent the last ten years of his career as Captain on Fireboat 5 and was instrumental in developing Los Angles Dive/Water rescue Team. He was the first member of the L.A. City Fire to ever receive not one, but two Medals of Valor for his actions.

Walt, with his expertise in fire fighting, served on the Copperopolis Fire Protection District Board of Directors. He also was a founding member of the Copperopolis Area Business Association and Board Member of the Copper cove Homeowners Association.

The following is a submitted obituary on 4-16-12

 

 

Walt Ball, a longtime community leader in Copperopolis, passed away Saturday in Sonora at the age of 83. Walt was a beloved contributor to the Copperopolis Community serving as Grand Marshall of the 2011 Homecoming Parade/Celebration in Copperopolis. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Virginia with three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ball started his near 40 year career as a fire fighter career in 1953 in South Gate California and then joined the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1955, serving the last ten years of his career as Captain on Fireboat 5.Walt was instrumental in developing Los Angeles City’s capacity to fight fires on the water through the Under Water Wharf Fire Fighting & Rescue Team. 

He was the first member of the L.A. City Fire to ever receive, not one but, two Medals of Valor for heroism. He rescued scores of people from all sorts of disasters from the Sylmar tunnel explosion to the huge Super tanker explosion the “Sansinena.”  In that case he rescued 18 shipmates from a fiery oil disaster and in Los Angeles Harbor.

Mr. Ball was veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korea War in combat zones. 

Football was big focus of his life beginning at Long Beach City College football continuing later in life as he coached his son for 9 years, He coached Pop Warner and moved up to coaching high school for another 8 years before moving to Copperopolis

When Walt retired from the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1990 he and his wife Virginia made Copperopolis their home. For many years they ran the “Walkin' On Ranch” in the heart of “Copper” raising world champion Tennessee Walking Horses that were featured in many events including the Rose Parade in Pasadena. 

Walt, with his expertise in fire fighting, served on the Copperopolis Fire Protection District Board of Directors and was an active elder for Crossroads Church Lake Tulloch helping to  build the church and its service to the community.

He was  a founding member of the Copperopolis Area Business Association and Board Member of the Copper Cove Homeowners Association. He accomplished a great deal for the association including the construction and development of a baseball park that has served the community for more than a decade.

“Since moving here, both Walt and Virginia have been a great asset to the community and were active in many local organizations,” said President of the Copperopolis Community Center Sandy Rollings.

The memorial service will be held at 11 am, Saturday April 21^st at Crossroad Church Lake Tulloch in the Historic Copperopolis Church on O’Byrnes Ferry Road.  For information and directions log on to www.crossroadslaketulloch.org.