Ila Ruth Draper Ball 1926-2019
Ila Ruth Draper Ball made her way to her heavenly home Thursday, Nov. 21, in Lubbock. She was born on Dec. 21, 1926, to Erna Mae and Joe Draper in Levelland. Her family returned to Spur shortly after her birth. She attended Spur Schools, graduating in 1944. This is where she met the love of her life, Wilburn F. Ball. During her school years, she served the Spur Band as majorette and was class favorite along with Wilburn in 1942. They married in Spur on July 28, 1945. When Wilburn completed his service with the Merchant Marines, they returned to Spur, eventually purchasing the Spur Laundry & Dry Cleaners where Ila served as bookkeeper. At the same time, they established three coin-operated laundromats, two in Spur and one in Ralls. In 1971, they sold the steam laundry. At that time, Ila and her son Rickey established Ball’s Department Store in Crosbyton. Ila continued ownership of the department store until 1983.
Ila joined the First United Methodist Church in Spur at the age of eight. She and Wilburn continued life-long memberships in that church. Family was the priority in Ila’s life. She supported her boys in all school activities. She continued being active in following her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities until her health didn’t allow her that privilege anymore.
Ila is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters and brothers. Ila’s survivors include her son Rickey Ball of Grandview and her son and daughter-in-law Benny and Debbi Ball of Spur; three grandchildren, Stephanie (Ball) and Clint Jentsch of Grandview, Blake and Katrina Ball of Lubbock, and Elisha (Ball) and Timmy Reese of Lubbock; 10 great-grandchildren, Kennedy, Crosbi, Dane and Briggs Jentsch of Grandview, Camden and Liam Reese of Lubbock, and Kyler, Rielyn, Devin and Tylee Ball of Lubbock, and adopted son Jesse and Jolene Garcia of Spur.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Nov. 24, at the First United Methodist Church in Spur under the direction of Zapata Funeral Home. Graveside services were held immediately following at Spur Cemetery.
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