Elwyn Steele Ball Obituary (1924 - 2017)

Elwyn Steele Ball passed away July 20, 2017 at the age of 93. He was born in Durango, Colorado, and attended school there, and in Red Mesa. He later joined the Navy, serving in WWII and during the Korean War as a radio operator. While still in the Navy, he went on leave to visit his mother in Paradox, Colorado, and there he met his future sweetheart, Ethel Adair, who also happened to be in town visiting her parents who had recently moved there, They began to correspond, and not long after his discharge, they were married in the Manti Temple, and made their home in Sparks, Nevada, where they raised their five children- Maurice, Larry, Curtis, Kerry, and Teresa. Elwyn had a long career as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad, retiring after 39 years. He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many positions. He also spent many summers assisting the scouting organizations, introducing many young men to backpacking and camping. After he retired from the railroad, he and Ethel served a Family History mission in Salt Lake City, and later served as a service missionaries in the Bishop’s Storehouse in Sparks. They also volunteered for many years at the Reno Family History Center, where he learned bookbinding, and re-bound many of the old books that were falling apart. Although Elwyn had a quiet personality, he also had a curious streak a mile wide and loved to learn, so he had a wide variety of interests and hobbies. He was an excellent photographer, and was an accomplished oil painter. He also loved backpacking, playing chess, working on gadgets in the shop, and playing the harmonica. His real love though, was spending time with his family, and teasing the grandkids and then the great-grandkids. In his later years, he suffered from Alzheimer’s, and spent his last year in the Arbors Memory Care Unit in Sparks, where he received wonderful care from their loving staff, and also from the wonderful staff of Infinity Hospice. He is survived by his wife, Ethel, his children- Larry, Curtis, Kerry, and Teresa, 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his 3 brothers- Leslie, Lauren, and Rulon. His smile, his harmonica playing, and especially his playful personality will be greatly missed by his family and loved ones. His funeral will be held Wednesday, July 26th, at 11:00 AM in the Prater Way Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a viewing beforehand at 10:00. Burial will be afterwards at the Mountain View Cemetery.