Long-time Springfield resident, Roselyn “Joyce” Ball, age 85, went home to be with the Lord on December 25, 2013. Joyce was a kind, generous, fun-loving person who shared God’s light and love with everyone she met. She will be warmly remembered and sorely missed by her family and friends. Born October 10, 1928 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, she was the second child of Rev. Hubert B. and Blanche C. Chambers Laws. The Chambers were early settlers of Hot Spring County in Arkansas and Joyce considered Malvern her hometown. Her family was among the founding members of the Assemblies of God and produced the early publications for the denomination from their store in Malvern. She also lived with her parents and sister, Dorothy Laws (David), in several small towns in Arkansas where her father served as a minister including Cotter, Mountain Home, Whiteville, and Yellville. Joyce graduated from Malvern High School and enrolled in South Central Bible College in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she met her future husband, Dwight L. Ball. Dwight and Joyce were married June 22, 1952, and then transferred to Central Bible Institute (now Central Bible College) in Springfield. At the time of Dwight’s death in 2012, they had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Joyce was a devoted and active member of both Calvary Temple and Park Crest Assembly of God, singing in the choir and serving in children’s ministry and women’s fellowship. Her favorite ministry was welcoming congregation members and newcomers each week as a greeter. Joyce loved working at Evangel College (now Evangel University) where she made the students feel welcome and loved each day at the cafeteria. Many students affectionately called her “mom”. In 2011 she became a resident of Mercy Villa, where she dedicated her time to sharing her faith and love with her fellow residents and staff.
Joyce is survived by her three children and their spouses: Dwight F. Ball and wife Susan (Hanf) Ball of Billings, MO; Regina Ball Williams and husband, John J. Williams, of Memphis, TN, and Joanne Ball Gabriel and husband, Geoffrey M. Gabriel, MD of Greenville, SC. She is survived by seven grandchildren: David R. Ball (Rebecca), Derek A. Ball, J. Joseph Williams (Palmer), Mary Rose Williams, Matthew C. Gabriel and Nathaniel O. Gabriel; and one great granddaughter, Natalie Ball (David and Rebecca). She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister.
Visitation is Friday, December 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Life 360 Church (Park Crest Campus) with services to follow at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Joyce Ball to the Evangel University Music Department, 1111 N. Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65802. Special thanks to chaplains Anne Payette and David Burrick, and the caring staff at Mercy Villa, Springfield, Missouri.