Margaret Ball Obituary

Margaret Day Ball of Wheaton, formerly of Geneva and Wayne, passed away Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Wynscape Rehabilitation Center in Wheaton. She lived 90 extraordinary years. Born September 15, 1921 in Weaverville, North Carolina to Benjamin and Kate Day, she was raised in Easley, South Carolina. Just prior to graduation from Auburn University, she met and married a dashing young Army lieutenant. At the end of World War II, they settled in the Chicago area where they raised their three daughters and took enormous pleasure in the lives of their six grandchildren. Margaret enjoyed many activities, foremost of which was spending time with family and friends. She was an avid bridge player, made the world's best cookies and rolls, traveled extensively, and actively contributed to a number of community organizations over the years, often in a leadership role, including Young Mother's Club, Geneva Woman's Club, Women's Auxiliary of Community Hospital, P.E.O. and the Woman's Board of the Art Institute of Chicago. With her wonderful smile and her gracious Southern manners and accent that she never lost, she profoundly touched the lives of so many people. Her passing leaves a huge hole in their lives and hearts. She is survived by three daughters, Katharine B. (Philip) Soper of Ann Arbor, MI, Esther B. (Walter) Hewlett of Palo Alto, CA and Margaret B. (Peter) Stace of Bronxville, NY; six grandchildren, Chris and Kate Soper, Ben, Flora and Mary Hewlett and Eliza Stace, along with several nieces and nephews. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, G. Victor Ball; her parents and sister, Esther Moore. A Memorial Service was held at Anderson Auditorium, Wyndemere Retirement Community, 200 Wyndemere Circle, Wheaton. Burial will be private at North Cemetery, St. Charles. Contributions in Margaret's memory may be made to the Katharine Pickens Day Scholarship Fund at Brevard College, Attn: Gift Records, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, N.C., 28712 or to the PEO Foundation at www.peointernational.org. For more information, please contact Yurs Funeral Home of St. Charles, (630) 584-0060 or yursfuneralhomes.com.