Thomas Coast Ball, 64, of Wellsville passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. He was born December 5, 1950 in Wellsville, the son of the late Richard C. and Patricia (Temple) Ball.
Thomas was a 1968 graduate of Wellsville High School; he attended Oklahoma State University and served in the U.S. Army between 1971-‘77. He worked on the Alyeska Pipeline and as an air traffic controller on Alaska’s North Slope. Tom found his position as cook/manager of the soup kitchen at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fairbanks between 1991-1995 to be very rewarding. Between 1996 – 2004, he owned Park’s Highway Express, a seasonal shuttle service for tourists between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali State Park. He was a former resident of Fairbanks, AK and Seattle, WA. Tom returned to Wellsville in 2007 and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church.
He is survived by four siblings, R. Michael (April) Ball of Placerville, CA, Dr. Barbara E. (Edward) Teter of Elma, NY, Stephen T. (Joan) Ball of Wellsville, and Teresa A. (Ron) Vida of Wellington NV, 9 nieces & nephews and will be fondly remembered by several great nieces & nephews. His friends, Aultman Cook of Seattle, WA, Margaret Kerton, Albert Kerton and Amy Wilcox of Wellsville were also considered family to our cherished brother. He was predeceased by a beloved nephew, James Michael Taylor. Tom was happiest when friends and family were gathered in his dining room, waiting for yet another of his fantastic home-cooked meals.
Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Mass for Tom and his mother Patricia, who passed away on December 25, 2014, on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church in Scio with Rev. Dennis Mancuso as Celebrant. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church, Attn: Beautification Fund, 17 Maple Avenue, Wellsville, NY 14895 or The American Legion, c/o Brent Roberts, 23 Jefferson St, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.