Joseph Edgar Ball

On Monday, May 4, 2020, Joseph passed away from cancer. The cancer took him away from his loved ones very quickly. He had a very fulfilling 90 years of life. He was born on November 1, 1929, to Edgar Keller Ball and Katherine Lambert Simms of Seat Pleasant, Maryland, in Prince George's County. He graduated from Maryland Park High School in 1948 and entered the US Navy. He was stationed on the USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt as an Aviation Mechanic. He joined the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department, when he was 14 years old. He played on their baseball team and held the rank of Assistant Chief. He was a Life Member before building his dream. In the early 1960's, in the den of his house, he started the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department. The property was donated, and the station was built on Ritchie-Marlboro Road, Ritchie, Md. In 1991-1992, when the addition was built on to the station, he was the Job Foreman and oversaw construction. He held the rank of Fire Chief there for over 20 years and is a Chartered Life Member. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Prince George's County on September 17, 1987. On October 19, 2019, he was one of four Honorees at the Prince George's County Fire and Rescue Association and Ladies Auxiliary's 2019 Tribute Program. He had 76 years of Dedicated Volunteer Fire Service. He is preceded in death by his Mother, Katherine Puleo, and his Father, Edgar Ball, his Brother, Stephen Puleo, as well as Daughter, Cynthia McGee, and Son-in-Law, Donald McGee, Sr. He is survived by his Sister Catherine Macario, Daughter, Pamela Lewis (Jud). Also, Grandchildren Joseph Lewis, Kathryne Lewis, Donald McGee, Jr., and Tammie Raley (Frankie). Great Grandchildren Steven Lewis, Lindsay Raley, Cheyenne McGee,Joey Lewis and Savannah McGee. Great Great Grandchild Gracelynn Lewis. He is also survived by a lifetime of friends and the Member's of the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department.