May Belle Ball
Ball, May Belle (nee Huber) 88, passed on April 22, 2020, at Foulkeways at Gwynedd after a long battle with cancer. May was born October 24, 1931, in Philadelphia, PA to the late Harry Steele Huber Jr. and Mary (Moore) Huber and raised in Lansdowne. Beloved wife of over 63 years to Ethan F. Ball Jr., whom she met through Trinity Club. They were married August 18, 1956, at St. John’s the Evangelist Church in Lansdowne then moved to Flourtown where they raised their children Ethan Frank Ball III, Stephen (J.J.) Ball, and Mary (Stephen) Wietecha. She will be missed by her three granddaughters, Kyleigh Ball, Maureen Wietecha and her partner William Erickson, and Shannon Wietecha and her fiancé Brian Kniezewski along with one great-granddaughter, Sadie May Belle Kniezewski. May leaves behind two sisters, Ruth (William) Ziegler and Miriam (the late David) Stanton and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, James and George (Jo) Huber.
May Belle graduated from the Woman’s Medical College of Philadelphia Hospital School of Nursing and worked proudly as an RN at the hospital in both the operating room and teaching student nurses. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. After her children were born, May Belle retired from nursing and was involved in many volunteer activities including the American Cancer Society and the League of Women Voters where she edited the Montgomery County Voters Guide was on the State Board and worked in their state office.
She was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Whitemarsh for over 40 years including singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving on the Vestry, and volunteering in the office. She traveled to Guatemala on two mission trips. More recently she was a member of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill. She was a dedicated member of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross and loved to attend retreats at Adelynrood in Byfield, MA
Highly educated for her time, May Belle was a strong independent woman. She was intelligent and compassionate and gave freely of her time and resources to help others. Her actions spoke for her values as she worked tirelessly for the causes she believed in.
May Belle’s memorial service will be scheduled at a later date when friends and family are able to gather. In lieu of flowers, contributions in May Belle’s name may be made to the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC) at 46 Elm St. Byfield, MA 01922
Mary, Steve, Maureen, Shannon, and all the family,
I am sorry for the loss of your mother. Although I didn’t know her, I see her strength carried on in you. This is a difficult time to grieve a loved one with formal services on hold. You all are in my prayers.
Mo
Uncle Ethan, Frank, Steve and Mary,
Jack and I are so sorry for your loss.
Aunt May was an amazing woman and a kind soul. She always had a smile for us anytime we got together for a family event.
I hope the happy memories of her will come to you often, and that you know our love and prayers are being sent your way.
Love,
Kathy and Jack
May Belle and I served on the League of Women Voters State board for many years and it was so much fun to work with her. Her passion for good government and her desire to help Leagues fulfill their mission was exemplary. Will always have memories of our times together and the things she taught me over the years. So sorry you have to go through this very sad time when we must be so isolated. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Mary and Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Thank you for sharing this. Your mother was a remarkable woman and it is wonderful to read about her life, which has clearly been a positive influence on all of you and on many others too.
I remember Mrs. Ball as a lovely neighborhood mom who was always nice and had great Halloween decorations and candy! She used to occasionally give me rides to St. Thomas’ Church for choir practice when I was in Jr. choir. She was always kind and sweet to my mom, Elissa, who just passed. Mom considered “May Belle” and her husband Ethan one of the nicer couples in our neighborhood of Hemlock Road and Sycamore Lane, in the “Flourtown Gardens.” Hard to believe that so many life-long neighbors are now gone, including Molly Kling. God Bless to her family.