Ball, Clyde L.
Birth
Clyde Lawrence Ball was born May 14, 1888 on the family farm on the present site of the Altamont Reservoir, he was the son of Charles Eugene Ball and Minnie Bell Onderdonk.
Education
Clyde went from the local school to Altamont High School and took teaching training in Middleburgh. He earned his teaching certificate on July 23, 1907. Correspondent courses and summer sessions at Albany State Teachers College, now the State Univesity of New York at Albany, kept him up to date in his profession.
Occupation
He taught in one room schools - including the Switzkill School near his home - and was part of the beginning staff when the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School was started in 1932. He completed nearly 40 years of teaching when he retired in 1946. After teaching school, Clyde became an Automobile Insurance Agent. After 30 years in the insurance business, he retired from that at age 90, when his eyesight failed.
Marriage & Children
Clyde married Alta Mae Sholtes, June 1, 1911 at her family home, on Rock Road, Knox which is now the Nickolus Tommell residence. They had two daughters:
Organizations
Clyde was involved in many organizations, he was a record keeper for Berne Tent 770, Knights of the Maccabees, a member of the Berne Masonic Lodge 684, F&AM , which honored their 60 year past master in 1983, a member of Foxenkill Grange 1579, PoH, a charter member of the Berne Historical Society, secretary of the Berne Fire Commission and director of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association, Inc.. He was also an 80-year member of the National Geographic Society, a member of the [National Retired Teachers Association] and [Farm Extension Services]. He served as town clerk while he lived in the village and later served several terms as justice of the peace. He worked for the draft board in World War I and the rationing board in World War II and as an airplane spotter when needed. Clyde was the treasurer of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berne for 50 years.
Death
Clyde died 10 MAR 1991. Funeral services were held at the Berne Reformed Church, with Rev. Robert Hoffman, officiating. Clyde was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Obituary
1888 - 1901
His Wife
Alta M. Sholtes
1891 - 1996
Married June 1, 1911
Woodlawn Cemetery
Clyde Ball, 40 year teacher, dies
BERNE — Clyde Lawrence Ball died at his home on Switzkill Road Sunday evening, March 10. An Enterprise correspondent for many years, he would have celebrated his 103 birthday in May.
Born May 14,1888, he was the son of the late Charles and Minnie (Onderdonk) Ball. The farm home where he was born was on the present site of the Altamont Reservoir.
Moving to the Ball ancestral home in Switzkill in 1900, he went from the local school to Altamont High School and took teacher training in Middleburgh. He earned his teaching certificate on July 23, 1907. Correspondence courses and summer sessions at Albany State Teachers College kept him up to date in his profession. He taught in one-room schools and was part of the beginning staff when the Berne-Knox Central School was started. He had completed nearly 40 years of teaching when he retired in 1946.
He married Alta Mae Sholtes on June 1, 1911, at her family home, which is now the "His Farm" residence. His bride of nearly 80 years survives him, as do his two daughters, Alberta (Mrs. Raymond H.) Wright and Gertrude (Mrs. Franklin S.) Deitz. His daughters live on either side of the Balls' Maple Ridge Farm home.
He grew up in the Berne Lutheran Church, which he served as Luther League officer, Sunday school teacher, Christian Endeavor Society leader, deacon and, for 50 years, secretary and treasurer. Later he transferred to the Berne Reformed Church, where his wife is an 80-year member.
In addition to teaching and farm work, a growing insurance agency kept him busy even into later retirement. He was a record keeper for Berne Tent 770, Knights of the Maccabees, a member of Berne Lodge 684, F&AM, which honored their 60-year past master in 1983, a member of Foxenkill Grange 1579, PoH, a charter member of the Berne Historical Society, secretary of the Berne Fire Commission and a director of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association. He was also an 80-year member of the National Geographic Society, a member of the National Retired Teachers Association and Farm Extension Services.
He served as town clerk while he lived in the village and later served several terms as justice of the peace. He worked for the draft board in World War I and the rationing board in World War II and as an airplane spotter when needed.
Funeral services were this afternoon (Thursday) from the First Reformed Church of Berne, Rev. Robert Hoffman officiating.
Clyde L. Ball was the grandfather of Jean Wright of West Berne, Mrs. Joseph (Janet) Salzer Jr. of Westerlo, Allan Deitz of Guilderland, Mrs. James (Arlene) Clark of Essex Junction, Vt., Gerald Deitz of Waterford and the late Ruth Elaine Wright DeWitt; great-grandfather of Mrs. Kevin (Susan) Pyne of Rochester Hills, Mich., David S. DeWitt of Oxford, Ohio; Jonathan DeWitt of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jennifer L. Deitz of Corning, Karen B. Deitz of Cornell University, Stacey L. Salzer of Berne, David L. Clark of West Berne and Timothy Salzer of Westerlo. He it also survived by one great-great-grandson, Benjamin Pyne of Michigan; six step-great-grandchildren, Sherry Davis and Michael, Daniel, David, Joseph and Alan Sulzer; and four step-great-great granddaughters, Janelle and Ashley Davis, Jennifer Salzer and Valerie Salzer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Berne Lutheran Church or the Berne Reformed Church.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," Psalms 116:15,'
- Altamont Enterprise - March 14, 1991
Additional Media
Clyde Ball school souvenir 1909
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1933
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1934
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball letter sent as Justice of The Peace 1929
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1935
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1936-37
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1938
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball teacher record book for 1940, Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz 
Clyde Ball driving his cutter with sleigh bells
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball's certificate of membership in The Maccabees 1919.
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball's certificate of membership in The Maccabees.
Photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Friend Sholtes, Alta Mae Sholtes, Clyde Ball
photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball, Alta Mae Sholtes, Verti Gibbs, Harry Gibbs
photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball and Charles E. Ball
photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball on the farm
photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde Ball in Berne, Bassler home in background
photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
Clyde L. Ball 
Clyde Ball and Hazel Mae Ball 
Clyde L. Ball and Alta Mae Sholtes Ball 
Clyde and Alta Ball 
Alta Mae Sholtes Ball, Ada Cortwright and Clyde Ball 
Clyde and Alta Ball celebrate an Anniversary 
Clyde with twins Janet and Jean Wright, photo courtesy of Allan Deitz
