Carleton Martin Ball Jr., 69, Vero Beach
Carleton Martin Ball Jr., 69, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 17, 2018.
The family will receive friends 1-2 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2018, at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach with a memorial service celebrating his life beginning at 2 p.m., Pastor Buddy Tipton officiating.
Viva I. Clay, 101, Vero Beach
Viva I. Clay, 101, of Vero Beach, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at VNA Hospice House on April 22, 2018.
She was an elementary school teacher, Sunday school teacher, children’s church leader and story teller, and church organist.
Viva’s passion in life was her faith in God, her love for her family and friends, and showing God’s love to everyone she met.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Cavender (Collins); grandchildren, Rob Mazzarella, Suzan Ocana, Bob and Steve Clay, Ben Cavender (Carrie), Joe Cavender (Karis); and five great-grandchildren, Dagan Ocana, and Addie, Andrew, Natalie, and Katie Cavender.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Bob Clay; son, Jim Clay; and daughter, Mary Beth Mazzarella.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 5, 11 a.m. at Central Assembly of God, 6767 20th St., Vero Beach, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
Memorials preferred to VNA Hospice House or to Central Assembly of God Missions Fund.
Ruth S. Hall, Vero Beach
Ruth “Rufus” S. Hall, of Vero Beach died at home on April 24, 2018. She was born in April 1924, the daughter of Elizabeth and Andrew Sutherland.
She graduated from Harley School in Rochester, NY, attended Pine Manor College, and worked during the war as a nurse’s aide at what is now the Greenbrier Hotel.
She met a Harvard ROTC student in Boston named Sam Hall and they were married in 1946.
She is survived by three children, Stewart, Holly, and Cathy. Her fourth child, Ramsay died in 1998. There are eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In her later years, Rufus has had the good fortune to be cared for by five loving women; Estela, Irma, Claudia, Nicole, and Francis.
The family will be forever grateful to them.
A private memorial service will be held later.
Peggy Jean Justice Hallam, Vero Beach
Peggy Jean Justice Hallam, of Vero Beach, passed peacefully at home with her family on April 23, 2018.
She is survived by her children, Travis (Robin) Blanton and John Gregory (Tammy) Hallam; and by her seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was a fabulous artist and a dedicated teacher. She will be remembered for her beauty, her sharp wit and her joie de vivre.
Services will be held at Community Church of Vero Beach on May 4 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made VNA and Hospice Foundation or to the Humane Society of Indian River.
Arrangements are under the direction of Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service.
Ralph T. King, Vero Beach,
Ralph T. King, of Vero Beach,who was a civic-minded entrepreneur and avid golfer, died April 13, 2018.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Ralph graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College, and then married his beloved wife of 57 years, Jane B. King, who predeceased him.
After Ralph’s three years in the U.S. Navy, the couple moved to Cleveland where they lived for 23 years and raised four children.
Ralph worked for National City Bank of Cleveland for five years before launching a business career as treasurer and eventually chairman of Structural Fibers, Inc. (later renamed Essef Corp. and sold to Pentair, Inc. in 1999).
In 1962, he founded Custom Beverage Packers, Inc. a bottler and canner of carbonated beverages. For 23 years, he was a director of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
In 1975, Ralph served as interim headmaster of Hawken School, the Cleveland independent school attended by his three sons.
In 1977, following Ralph’s open-heart surgery, the couple moved to Vero Beach where Ralph had vacationed as a boy. Alan, Ralph’s youngest son, attended St. Edward’s School in Vero Beach and Dartmouth, much to his father’s delight.
Always active in civic affairs, Ralph was treasurer and a director of the Vero Beach YMCA and then treasurer and a director of the United Way of Indian River County, which named its lifetime service award after him.
He served on the Indian River Memorial Hospital Board and the Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board, acting as chairman for three years, and was secretary/treasurer and a director of the Civic Association of Indian River County.
As a founder and board member of the Riomar Neighborhood Association, Ralph warned county commissioners about the surge of housing tracts planned by out-of-area builders that would have forced existing homeowners to pay for new infrastructure.
Ralph’s passion for golf led him to join the United States Seniors Golf Association and he served on its Board of Governors for ten years. He founded the Indian River Invitational Tournament and was chairman of the USSGA Invitational Tournaments Committee.
He recorded seven holes-in-one during his golfing career.
When two hurricanes in 2004 irreparably damaged their house, Ralph and Jane moved to nearby Oak Harbor and lived along the golf course.
Jane died of neurological problems in 2008. Until his demise, Ralph continued playing bridge and dining with friends at the Oak Harbor Club.
Ralph is survived by his children, Lindsay (Craig) Rahl, of Chesapeake, Va., Ralph (Leslie Chin) King Jr., of Portola Valley, Calif., Douglas F. (Cyndy) King, of Sun Valley, Idaho, and Alan (Monica) King, of Kalaheo, Hawaii; a brother, Warren (wife, Barry) King, of Ripton, Vt.; eight grandchildren, Courtney Miller, Christopher Rahl, Jaline King, Tucker King, Clarissa King, Douglas M. King, Andrew King, and Maximilian King; and three great-grandchildren, Tyson Miller, Brooklyn Miller, and Trayvon Miller.
Memorial donations may be made in Ralph’s name to United Way of Indian River County and the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.
Hugh Thompson, Jr., 80, Vero Beach
Hugh Thompson, Jr., 80, of Vero Beach, passed peacefully, Wednesday, April 25, 2018, surrounded by family. Hugh was born on Sept. 26, 1928, to Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Thompson, in Charleston, W.V.
He attended Charleston High School where he excelled in sports and was the president of his class. Hugh attended Duke University before transferring to Miami University of Ohio where he played Varsity Basketball and Tennis.
Upon completion of his BS degree he served as 2nd Lieutenant in the United State Air Force.
Following his service, Hugh returned to Charleston where he began a long and distinguished career with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. At the age of 31 he was the youngest agent in the history of Northwestern to lead the company’s 8,000 sales people in total volume sales.
Through his tenure he was also recognized by American Sales Masters as the #1 Agent in the Country of ANY company.
In 1964, he was recognized by the Charleston Jaycees as the Young Man of the Year and was among the top 10 young men in America.
Hugh was very active in both the Charleston and Vero Beach communities. In addition to the organizations Hugh supported, he was an elder of Presbyterian Church and on the Board of Trustees of the Community Church in Vero Beach.
He was a passionate player and promoter of tennis. He won many tournaments including the prestigious Mason-Dixon doubles tournament. He also started a non-profit public tennis program in Charleston, W.V., that was recognized as one of the top two programs in the US.
Hugh served on the USTA National Jr. Tennis Council with his first wife, MK Thompson (deceased), and served as Vice Chairman for two years of the USTA Junior Development Committee.
Hugh married MK Thompson in 1964 and they had three children, Terry, Gary, and Wendy. The family moved to Vero Beach in 1973. MK passed when the children were ages 8, 9, and 10.
Hugh later married Ann C. Isenhour, who also had three children, Wyn, Becky, and Tripp.
Hugh was one of the first members of Johns Island. In addition, he and Ann were members of Quail Valley in Vero Beach and Linville Golf Club in Linville, N.C.
Survivors include his six children, Terry, Gary and Wendy Thompson, Wyn Frame, Becky Shealy, and Tripp Isenhour; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death, by his beloved wife of 35 years, Ann C. Thompson; his first wife, MK Thompson; his sister, Frances Young; and a grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Community Church Youth Program, 1901 23rd Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
A memorial service celebrating his life will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, at The Community Church in Vero Beach.
