Ball, Cornelius S.

Description

Cornelius S. Ball was born on Decemer 26, 1916, to Teresa V. and Joseph A. Ball, he attended Rye schools. He had three sisters Gertrude, Dora, Sophia and a brother Bernard. In Rye his family lived at 7 Hillcrest Lane and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Cornelius attended Rye schools was a Rye High School Graduate.

He married Audrey Cullen on April 20, 1940. They had one child during their marriage. He enlisted on February 19, 1943, in New York City, New York, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was 26 years old.

Cornelius was stationed in northern France. He was one of the guards during the Potsdam conference in August 1945, when the leaders of the major Allied nations met after the defeat of Germany. He was discharged on Dec. 18, 1945 receiving the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation and the Africa-Middle East-Eueopean WWII Victory Medal.

Old Rye Cronies Meet In France

Cornelius worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 42 years and was Rye’s postmaster for 30 years retiring in 1977. He was a longtime volunteer for the Poningoe Hook and Ladder Co. of the Rye Fire Department. Cornelius was the chief from 1951-1953.

He was a member of the Westchester County Postmasters Assoc., The Rye/Portchester old Timers Assoc. and a charter member of Rye/Portchester Ex-Fire Cheifs Assoc. He was also an officer in the Lions Club of Rye and a 25 year member of the Knights of Columbus.

Cornelius S Ball who served as Rye’s postmaster and fire chief died Monday January 4, 1987 at the Port Chester Nursing Home He was 70 and had suffered from a heart ailment. Mr Ball was transferred to the nursing home from United Hospital in Port Chester – a few days before his death.