William G. Ball Jr., a Massachusetts native who worked for years as a businessman in New York and who served in a key position during World War II, training East Coast servicemen in fuel conservation and engine maintenance, died Thursday, January 7, 2010 in Southbury, Connecticut of natural causes. He was 97.
Mr. Ball earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and engineering administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1934. For the next 11 years, Mr. Ball worked in marketing and sales for the Gulf Oil Corporation and the Ethyl Corporation in New York. During World War II, he was assigned by Ethyl to train Army, Navy, and Coast Guard personnel in fuel conservation and engine maintenance.
After the war, he continued working in sales for Ethyl until 1950, when he was named assistant director of their public relations department, a position he held for the next 20 years.
In 1970, he joined the National Association of Manufacturers as member relations director for NAM's eastern region. While living in the New York area, Mr. Ball served as a Trustee and Acting Mayor of the Village of Larchmont, a member of the zoning board and chairman of the Village traffic commission.
Mr. Ball retired to East Dennis, Massachusetts in 1979, where he resided for 20 years, and while there served as director of the MIT club of Cape Cod and treasurer of the Dennis taxpayers Association.
In 1999, he moved to Ridgefield Crossings in Ridgefield, Connecticut. He is survived by his son, Richard W. Ball of Ridgefield, and his daughter, Nancy Ball Lesher of Southbury, Connecticut.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Services: Memorial plans will be announced later.