Dennis L. Ball

Dennis L. Ball, age 75, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2022, at his home on the Portage Lakes in New Franklin, Ohio, with family by his side.  Denny was born in Akron on August 14, 1946.  He graduated from Ellet High School in 1965 and went on to continue his education at The Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, graduating with an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic License.  He then enlisted in the United States Air Force & was honorably discharged in 1967 after a brief illness.  He began his aviation career with The BF Goodrich Aircraft Service Center installing Pneumatic De-Icing Systems on various types of aircraft.  His career & talents gave him the chance to travel to Aircraft Manufacturing Companies in the United States, China, Finland, & Germany instructing the proper technique for installing the De-icing System.  After 46 years of dedicated service, he retired in 2013.  Denny was known for his quick wit, generous spirit, & fun-loving attitude.  He brought smiles & joy to all.  Denny was an outdoor enthusiast and grew up spending summers at his family home on Seneca Lake, OH.  His love of the water and boating were a cherished past time.  Not only was he an expert mechanic, but a superb boat driver, and excellent slalom & barefoot water skier who enjoyed teaching family and countless friends to water ski and drive a boat.    He made everyone feel welcome and was always there to lend a hand, a tool, a bit of advice, and a laugh or two.  He was an avid Nascar Fan and enjoyed attending races with his many friends & family.  A part owner & operator of a hydroplane race boat, he loved the exhilarating sport of boat racing and the wonderful times shared with those fortunate to be there with him.  He loved to hunt & fish.  Catching a 110 pound Halibut in Alaska with his Dad was an exciting fish story he loved to tell.  He embraced the camaraderie of co-workers & friends in friendly but fierce games of softball & basketball in the two men’s leagues he joined.  His snowmobile trips were legendary & he looked so forward to the one & only “GTO” (Guys Trip Only) he shared with his friends every year for so many fun memories.  Denny was a loving father to Shelley, Daisy, & Nathan, an honored & respected father-in-law to David & Bradley, and a proud Grandfather to Delaney & Lee.  He shared his faith, hope, love, family & friends with his loving wife, Diana, of 26 yrs. Denny's courage and strength was an inspiration for all who knew him. Preceded in death by his parents, James and Betsy Ball, father-in-law, John Sabo, and Sister-In-Law, Janet Starr.  He is survived by his wife, Diana, daughters Shelley (Dave) Dannenberg, Daisy (Bradley) Johnson, & son, Nathan.  Grandchildren, Delaney Christine and Lee Dennis Dannenberg.  Sisters, Marilyn (Tom) Forster, & Charlene (Ed) Pestovic. Mother-in-law, Marge Sabo.  Sisters-in-law, Kathy (Jeff) Barstow, Mary Jo Nichols, Christine Sabo (Ed Sunkin), Barb (Mike) Primovero, & Beth (Jerry) Baughman. Brothers-in-Law, John (Terri) Sabo, Ron (Kim) Sabo and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, & furry friend, “Felix the Cat.”  Special Thanks to:  Dr John C Cook for many years of outstanding care, Summa Health System Doctors, Nurses, Therapists, & Staff, Barberton Wound Care & the Wound Care Nurses at Akron City Hospital, dialysis nurses, Kim & Jen & all the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care in Green, Dr. Ford, Gene @ Yankee Bionics, Grace Hospice, and many close friends, family, & neighbors who visited Denny in thought, deed, & prayer over the years.  According to Denny’s wishes, a cremation has taken place & a Celebration of Life will be held Monday August 8, 2022, between the hours of 3 - 7 pm at The Tudor House in Portage Lakes, 655 Latham Lane, Akron, Ohio 44319.  A memorial service will begin at 3:30 pm, followed by the celebration of Denny’s life.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Kidney Foundation of Northern Ohio. (PO Box 40544 Bay Village, Ohio 44140, memorial: Dennis L. Ball.), The Amputee Coalition, American Diabetes Association, or local Church or Charity of your choice.

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