Thomas Prioleau Ball
Born in Norfolk, VA on Sep. 6, 1906
Died Feb. 23, 2006 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Saturday Mar. 11, 2006
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, record setting Hall of Fame pilot, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and ex-Vice President of Delta Airlines, died quietly on February 23, 2006 at the age of 99.
"Pre" was born in Norfolk, VA. on September 6, 1906. He grew up and learned to fly in Jacksonville, FL where, in 1928, he soloed in a WWI Jenny biplane.
During his early years as a barnstorming acrobatic pilot he met and married Teresa Daniel of Americus, GA, his beloved wife of 75 years. Tia, as she was known to the family, preceded him in death by six months.
He served as the Charleston, SC airport manger, flight instructor/charter pilot and owner of Hawthorne Flying Service until being hired as one of the first pilots for Delta Airlines in July of 1935.
During WWII, he rose from 2nd Lt. to Colonel in the Army Air Corps in less than three years and served on the Air Staff as Division Chief in the Office of flying Safety.
Following the war, he returned to Delta Airlines where he flew as a Captain and became the Chief Pilot. He developed the Delta flying safety program that became the model for other airlines. He set seven transcontinental speed records, four of which have never been broken.
He pioneered the Category II instrument landing system and flew the first such approach into the Atlanta airport. "Pre" became vice-President of Operations and later retired in 1971.
He was so loved and respected by his pilots that they presented him a new BMW sports car at his retirement.
He and his wife moved to San Antonio in 1995. Following his induction into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2005, he walked to the podium and made his acceptance speech at the age of 98.
Captain Ball is survived by two sons, M/Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball Jr. and wife, Patty of San Antonio, TX. and Dr. Espy Daniel Ball and wife, Kathleen of Tampa, Florida; a nephew, Ken Daniel of Washington, DC; six grandchildren, Teresa Boyer and husband, Tracy, Patricia Veley and husband, Rick, Elizabeth Medley and husband, Dr. Christopher Medley, and L/Col. Thomas P. "Pre" Ball III and wife, Julie, all of San Antonio. Also, Susan Ball and husband, John Brandolino of Arlington, VA, and Clair Lane and husband, Pat, of Gaithersburg, MD.
Surviving also are seventeen great-grandchildren, Brad and Michael Gaultney, Kelly and Ryan Boyer, Rick, Daniel, and Matthew Veley, Amy, Christopher, and Weston Medley, Thomas P. "Prio" Ball IV and Jason Ball, all of San Antonio; Evan and Alexander Brandolino and Julia, Faith, and Sophie Lane of Gaithersburg, MD.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Dana Jones of College Park, GA for their decades of friendship and close support, and to Yolanda Gonzales and Maria Hernandez, his dedicated caregivers in his last months of life.
Mr. Ball will be buried with his wife, Teresa in College Park, GA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Thomas P. "Pre" Ball and Teresa Ball Memorial Fund of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 8427, Warner Robins, GA. 31095 or a charity of one's choice.
Born in Norfolk, VA on Sep. 6, 1906
Died Feb. 23, 2006 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Saturday Mar. 11, 2006
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, record setting Hall of Fame pilot, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and ex-Vice President of Delta Airlines, died quietly on February 23, 2006 at the age of 99.
"Pre" was born in Norfolk, VA. on September 6, 1906. He grew up and learned to fly in Jacksonville, FL where, in 1928, he soloed in a WWI Jenny biplane.
During his early years as a barnstorming acrobatic pilot he met and married Teresa Daniel of Americus, GA, his beloved wife of 75 years. Tia, as she was known to the family, preceded him in death by six months.
He served as the Charleston, SC airport manger, flight instructor/charter pilot and owner of Hawthorne Flying Service until being hired as one of the first pilots for Delta Airlines in July of 1935.
During WWII, he rose from 2nd Lt. to Colonel in the Army Air Corps in less than three years and served on the Air Staff as Division Chief in the Office of flying Safety.
Following the war, he returned to Delta Airlines where he flew as a Captain and became the Chief Pilot. He developed the Delta flying safety program that became the model for other airlines. He set seven transcontinental speed records, four of which have never been broken.
He pioneered the Category II instrument landing system and flew the first such approach into the Atlanta airport. "Pre" became vice-President of Operations and later retired in 1971.
He was so loved and respected by his pilots that they presented him a new BMW sports car at his retirement.
He and his wife moved to San Antonio in 1995. Following his induction into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2005, he walked to the podium and made his acceptance speech at the age of 98.
Captain Ball is survived by two sons, M/Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball Jr. and wife, Patty of San Antonio, TX. and Dr. Espy Daniel Ball and wife, Kathleen of Tampa, Florida; a nephew, Ken Daniel of Washington, DC; six grandchildren, Teresa Boyer and husband, Tracy, Patricia Veley and husband, Rick, Elizabeth Medley and husband, Dr. Christopher Medley, and L/Col. Thomas P. "Pre" Ball III and wife, Julie, all of San Antonio. Also, Susan Ball and husband, John Brandolino of Arlington, VA, and Clair Lane and husband, Pat, of Gaithersburg, MD.
Surviving also are seventeen great-grandchildren, Brad and Michael Gaultney, Kelly and Ryan Boyer, Rick, Daniel, and Matthew Veley, Amy, Christopher, and Weston Medley, Thomas P. "Prio" Ball IV and Jason Ball, all of San Antonio; Evan and Alexander Brandolino and Julia, Faith, and Sophie Lane of Gaithersburg, MD.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Dana Jones of College Park, GA for their decades of friendship and close support, and to Yolanda Gonzales and Maria Hernandez, his dedicated caregivers in his last months of life.
Mr. Ball will be buried with his wife, Teresa in College Park, GA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Thomas P. "Pre" Ball and Teresa Ball Memorial Fund of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 8427, Warner Robins, GA. 31095 or a charity of one's choice.
Thomas Prioleau Ball
Born in Norfolk, VA on Sep. 6, 1906
Died Feb. 23, 2006 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Saturday Mar. 11, 2006
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, record setting Hall of Fame pilot, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and ex-Vice President of Delta Airlines, died quietly on February 23, 2006 at the age of 99.
"Pre" was born in Norfolk, VA. on September 6, 1906. He grew up and learned to fly in Jacksonville, FL where, in 1928, he soloed in a WWI Jenny biplane.
During his early years as a barnstorming acrobatic pilot he met and married Teresa Daniel of Americus, GA, his beloved wife of 75 years. Tia, as she was known to the family, preceded him in death by six months.
He served as the Charleston, SC airport manger, flight instructor/charter pilot and owner of Hawthorne Flying Service until being hired as one of the first pilots for Delta Airlines in July of 1935.
During WWII, he rose from 2nd Lt. to Colonel in the Army Air Corps in less than three years and served on the Air Staff as Division Chief in the Office of flying Safety.
Following the war, he returned to Delta Airlines where he flew as a Captain and became the Chief Pilot. He developed the Delta flying safety program that became the model for other airlines. He set seven transcontinental speed records, four of which have never been broken.
He pioneered the Category II instrument landing system and flew the first such approach into the Atlanta airport. "Pre" became vice-President of Operations and later retired in 1971.
He was so loved and respected by his pilots that they presented him a new BMW sports car at his retirement.
He and his wife moved to San Antonio in 1995. Following his induction into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2005, he walked to the podium and made his acceptance speech at the age of 98.
Captain Ball is survived by two sons, M/Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball Jr. and wife, Patty of San Antonio, TX. and Dr. Espy Daniel Ball and wife, Kathleen of Tampa, Florida; a nephew, Ken Daniel of Washington, DC; six grandchildren, Teresa Boyer and husband, Tracy, Patricia Veley and husband, Rick, Elizabeth Medley and husband, Dr. Christopher Medley, and L/Col. Thomas P. "Pre" Ball III and wife, Julie, all of San Antonio. Also, Susan Ball and husband, John Brandolino of Arlington, VA, and Clair Lane and husband, Pat, of Gaithersburg, MD.
Surviving also are seventeen great-grandchildren, Brad and Michael Gaultney, Kelly and Ryan Boyer, Rick, Daniel, and Matthew Veley, Amy, Christopher, and Weston Medley, Thomas P. "Prio" Ball IV and Jason Ball, all of San Antonio; Evan and Alexander Brandolino and Julia, Faith, and Sophie Lane of Gaithersburg, MD.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Dana Jones of College Park, GA for their decades of friendship and close support, and to Yolanda Gonzales and Maria Hernandez, his dedicated caregivers in his last months of life.
Mr. Ball will be buried with his wife, Teresa in College Park, GA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Thomas P. "Pre" Ball and Teresa Ball Memorial Fund of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 8427, Warner Robins, GA. 31095 or a charity of one's choice.
Born in Norfolk, VA on Sep. 6, 1906
Died Feb. 23, 2006 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Saturday Mar. 11, 2006
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, record setting Hall of Fame pilot, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and ex-Vice President of Delta Airlines, died quietly on February 23, 2006 at the age of 99.
"Pre" was born in Norfolk, VA. on September 6, 1906. He grew up and learned to fly in Jacksonville, FL where, in 1928, he soloed in a WWI Jenny biplane.
During his early years as a barnstorming acrobatic pilot he met and married Teresa Daniel of Americus, GA, his beloved wife of 75 years. Tia, as she was known to the family, preceded him in death by six months.
He served as the Charleston, SC airport manger, flight instructor/charter pilot and owner of Hawthorne Flying Service until being hired as one of the first pilots for Delta Airlines in July of 1935.
During WWII, he rose from 2nd Lt. to Colonel in the Army Air Corps in less than three years and served on the Air Staff as Division Chief in the Office of flying Safety.
Following the war, he returned to Delta Airlines where he flew as a Captain and became the Chief Pilot. He developed the Delta flying safety program that became the model for other airlines. He set seven transcontinental speed records, four of which have never been broken.
He pioneered the Category II instrument landing system and flew the first such approach into the Atlanta airport. "Pre" became vice-President of Operations and later retired in 1971.
He was so loved and respected by his pilots that they presented him a new BMW sports car at his retirement.
He and his wife moved to San Antonio in 1995. Following his induction into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2005, he walked to the podium and made his acceptance speech at the age of 98.
Captain Ball is survived by two sons, M/Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball Jr. and wife, Patty of San Antonio, TX. and Dr. Espy Daniel Ball and wife, Kathleen of Tampa, Florida; a nephew, Ken Daniel of Washington, DC; six grandchildren, Teresa Boyer and husband, Tracy, Patricia Veley and husband, Rick, Elizabeth Medley and husband, Dr. Christopher Medley, and L/Col. Thomas P. "Pre" Ball III and wife, Julie, all of San Antonio. Also, Susan Ball and husband, John Brandolino of Arlington, VA, and Clair Lane and husband, Pat, of Gaithersburg, MD.
Surviving also are seventeen great-grandchildren, Brad and Michael Gaultney, Kelly and Ryan Boyer, Rick, Daniel, and Matthew Veley, Amy, Christopher, and Weston Medley, Thomas P. "Prio" Ball IV and Jason Ball, all of San Antonio; Evan and Alexander Brandolino and Julia, Faith, and Sophie Lane of Gaithersburg, MD.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Dana Jones of College Park, GA for their decades of friendship and close support, and to Yolanda Gonzales and Maria Hernandez, his dedicated caregivers in his last months of life.
Mr. Ball will be buried with his wife, Teresa in College Park, GA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Thomas P. "Pre" Ball and Teresa Ball Memorial Fund of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 8427, Warner Robins, GA. 31095 or a charity of one's choice.
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