Dr. Billie Joe Ball, 89, passed away on November 1, 2018. He was born on April 8, 1929, in Louin, MS. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1956 with a BS in Chemical and Electrical Engineering and in 1959 with an MS in Electrical Engineering. He completed his PHD in EE in 1962 at Texas A&M. Dr. Ball was a Professor and Department Head Emeritus of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Mississippi State University. Having served MSU for more than 30 years, he retired in 1992.
He was a member of First Baptist Church, Starkville Rotary Club, and VFW. During his career at Mississippi State he helped found the Engineering Research Center, planned and supervised the construction of Simrall Electrical Engineering Building, of which the main office is named for him, and contributed to numerous state and federal research and development projects including technology related to rocket construction currently in use at NASA. Dr. Ball holds one US Patent and has served as National President, VP and Secretary of the National EE Department Heads Association; the EE Division of the American Society for Engineering Education; IEEE; SCEEE; and Eta Kappa Nu.
Billie served his country during the Korean War with the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant through 1954 and received the UN Service Metal, Korean Service Metal, and National Defense Service Metal.
Billie loved fishing, spending time with his family, traveling, reading, and working with college students, faculty, and staff members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma Smith Ball; his sisters Ruby Dorris Ball and V. Bonnor; and his brothers Olan Ball and George Ball.

Billie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ora Jean Thornton Ball of Starkville; two children John E. Ball, wife Kim of Starkville, MS, and Barbara Jean Ball Ward, husband Randy of Germantown, TN; six grandchildren Nathan, Elise, and Grayson Ball all of Starkville, MS, and Matthew, Ashley, and Michael Ward all of Germantown, TN; his brothers Donald Ball of Galvaston, TX, Floyd Ball of Katy, TX; his sisters Mary Lyon and Faye Boone both of Laurel, MS, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2018, from 1:00-3:00pm at First Baptist Church in Starkville, MS, with the service immediately following. Graveside service will be held at Memorial Gardens, Starkville, MS.
We would like any memorials to go to the Mississippi State University Foundation designated to the Engineering Research Center or the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.