Gene R. Ball of Magnolia, TX passed from this life and went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Born April 13, 1935, he was 90 years of age when he finished his earthly journey.

Born in Burdett, KS during one of the worst Dust Bowl storms in U.S. history (wet sheets were hung around his crib so he could breathe), Gene was raised by his parents (father – Lynn, mother – Clara) in rural Hodgeman County, KS. Gene had 2 siblings (elder brother Larry and younger brother Ronald), and together they helped their parents manage the responsibilities of life on a farm in Kansas. While Gene loved driving the tractor, his future lifepath would take him in different directions - as a Senior Geologist, an Oil & Gas Manager, a Pastor, an Author, a Landscaper, a professional OTR Truck Driver, a Security Manager, and more.

Gene was a graduate of Bazine High School (Salutatorian, 1953) where he participated in high school athletics (football, baseball, basketball, track), choir ("Best Male Vocalist"), and other scholastic/service/educational programs such as 4-H and VO-AG (Vocational Agriculture). He later attended Ft. Hays College where he became further interested in math and science, particularly Geology. It was while working with a regional Seismic crew (Gene was a brave soul who loaded dynamite into earthen-drilled testing holes for his employer!) that Gene decided he would pursue Geology as his career. Gene successfully obtained an undergraduate degree in Geology (University of Kansas, 1957), followed by Master's Degree studies in the same field at KU. Later, he attended Stanford University (CA) in pursuit of a Doctoral Degree, Geology (1960/61).

While attending the University of Kansas, Gene often said Providence (God) caused him to run into a woman he had briefly met a couple of years earlier at a high school Area Music Festival (Jane D. Neyer of Ransom, KS – voted "Best Female Vocalist"). The two songbirds began dating and Gene married the love of his life in 1957. Married for nearly 64 years, they raised a family of 3 children and lovingly shared life's joys and challenges together until Jane passed in June 2021.

In his final year at Stanford University, Gene was hired by Humble Oil Company (which later became Exxon, today ExxonMobil) where he received multiple promotional opportunities during his 10 years of dedicated service. In addition to ExxonMobil, Gene later held Senior Geologist or management positions, or provided services as an independent oil man, with other top-tier oil companies, including: General Crude, Champlin Oil, Apache Oil and Gas (O&G) Co., R.J. Reynolds Oil, Cobb Oil Company, et al. During his O&G career, Gene was instrumental in finding numerous "producers", and he also enjoyed mentoring and training junior geologists. That said, ask Gene and he would honestly say, there were a few "dry ones" (holes and people) along the way!

While in the O&G industry, Gene's work allowed him (and later his family) to travel extensively and see many states in the USA. In addition, he and his family lived in Jerusalem, Israel for nearly 2 years in the mid-1970's and travelled parts of Europe before returning Stateside. Gene fully believed God miraculously opened multiple doors for him to visit Israel (it was on his bucket-list). Not only did he get to visit Israel, but he always cherished the rare opportunity to live in the Old City (Jerusalem), walk the roads where Jesus walked, and be a witness for Christ in the amazing Holy Land.

Gene became a believer in Jesus Christ (see John 3:16) at 9 years of age. In the years that followed, he greatly matured in the Word (The Bible) and was a devout Christian man. While his work and family were of great importance to him, his relationship with Jesus Christ was always first priority. Gene Ball loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and he faithfully followed Scriptural teachings for daily living and the "Great Commission" given to all Believers (see Matthew 28:19,20).

Gene further served the Lord through the ministry of Music. He and his wife were both gifted vocalists (Jane was also a superb piano player), and they were involved in numerous church music-ministries for many years. They frequently sang duets at churches they regularly attended. And, as word got out, they were also asked to perform as guest singers at other churches and events. In the early '70s, they formed a musical group known as the "Harmonic Heirs" and released an album of inspirational songs.

In addition to singing and being a "recording artist" (he would have chuckled at such a label), Gene enjoyed many hobbies (sports, travel, raising and selling purebred dogs/cats, cattle breeding, rock-collecting, barbed-wire collecting, exotic animals (i.e., Emus), real estate, photography, coins and precious-metals, racquet and paddleball games, and, most important, reading). Highly analytical, inquisitive, curious, and always on a quest for knowledge, Gene's favorite pastime was reading. Whether early in the morning, or after a workday was done, or frequently late at night, you could find Gene sitting in his favorite comfy chair digesting a book or magazine. Over a period of decades, he collected a large library of books, periodicals, and study-guides (most of them Bible-based instruction and related).

As is customary for most working people, Gene undertook full-time day jobs during his work career. However, what set him apart from his peers, he also made major time commitments to Christian ministries. He and his wife Jane provided integral support for, or were closely affiliated with, various Bible-based organizations, including: Child Evangelism Fellowship, (Directors – Midland & Ector County, TX; and, in later years, Directors for multiple KS Counties ); Bible Memory Association (now Scripture Memory Fellowship) – Texas locations; and, the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry - Bellmawr, NJ (Gene and Jane were successful graduates of their inaugural Training Class of 1987).

For decades, Gene Ball applied himself to studying and properly exegeting the Bible. Gene / Jane hosted various Bible teaching and training sessions in their homes over many years. So effective was Gene as a teacher and communicator, he also became an ordained Christian Minister. Gene pastored Hodgeman Community Church (Hodgeman, KS) for 2 years (10/1971 – 10/1973) and Community Bible Church (Midland, TX) for 1 - 2 years, beginning in 1985. Further, while living in Texas and Kansas, he was regularly asked to be a guest speaker (or temporary fill-in Pastor) for multiple churches. Later, in the 1990's (and forward), he prepared and broadly distributed a gospel Bible tract to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all those whom he came into contact. Gene routinely, consistently, and unapologetically shared the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever he went. "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23).

Gene Ball was preceded in death by his father - Lynn Ball (7-13-1984, age 75), mother – Clara Ball (7-26-1965, age 57), stepmother – Maude Goode Ball (1-22-1996, age 87), and his beloved wife – Jane Ball (6-28-2021, age 84).

He is survived by 3 children [(daughter - Cynthia Martin of Montgomery, TX (husband Kerry)), (son - Gregory Ball of Plano, TX), and (son - Dr. Sheldon Ball of Magnolia, TX (former wife Deborah of Jamaica))]; 3 grandchildren [(grandson - Jeffrey Crook of Hockley, TX (wife Cacee)), (granddaughter - Tiffany Martin of Montgomery, TX), and (granddaughter - Hannah Ball of Jamaica)]; 1 great-grandchild (great-granddaughter - Rylee Crook of Hockley, TX); and a host of friends and acquaintances that will sadly miss him.

He is also survived by his 2 brothers (Dr. Larry Ball of Stafford, KS (wife Connie)) and (Ronald Ball of Big Spring, TX (wife Barbara)).

Gene Ball's Memorial Service will be held Thursday, January 15, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at Klein Funeral Homes and Memorial Parks, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia, TX 77354.