Roy Ball

Roy Earl Ball, 87, passed away on December 3, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, ending a long battle with renal disease and congestive heart failure. His last wish, to die at home, in the company of his wife and two children, was granted.

Roy was born September 3, 1938, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Myrl Wilbur Ball and Gladys Fay (Jones) Ball, Roy grew up in the North Valley, finding many outlets for his inquisitiveness and inventiveness. He was constantly exploring and building, modifying and fixing. Roy attended Washington and Albuquerque High, then transferred to and graduated from the newly opened Valley High School in 1956. Roy married Marion Roop, also a Valley High School graduate, in 1958. They both set off in pursuit of higher learning at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Roy earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from NMSU in 1961,

After graduation from NMSU. Roy began his professional career as a rocket scientist with Hercules Powder in Utah, in 1961. His first rocket launch-though marred by an electronics failure-became the stuff of legend when it crash-landed on the dark side of the moon.

This early experience set the tone for a career filled with bold ideas and inventive solutions, as well as technical challenges to overcome. Over the years, he contributed to numerous aerospace projects, including those fielded by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the Goldstone Tracking Station near Barstow and JPL headquarters in Pasadena; as well as GE Special Military Spacecraft; Aerojet Microwave and Aerojet Electrosystems in California. In California, Roy pursued and earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1971. After his return to New Mexico in the 1970s, Roy continued to work on aerospace projects for Applied Technology and briefly, for Link Aviation.

In Albuquerque, in the 1970s and 80s, Roy shifted gears from his focus on aerospace, and became his own boss. He found joy and purpose in working independently-a career path he followed until 2022 when health concerns led him into semi-retirement. Roy was fascinated with all things mechanical-cars, airplanes, boats, and tractors-and collected and restored many over the years. He also expanded his skills in acquiring, renovating, and building houses, including converting an old dairy barn for his family home. Roy approached every task with ingenuity and determination. He always had many irons in the fire, whether he was building boats, resurrecting old vehicles, or searching for and restoring down-at-the-heels properties to usefulness.

Roy's personal life was as dynamic as his professional one. After he and Marion divorced, Roy married Toni Ristau in 1992, in Denver. He shared many adventures with his wife Toni, who also had an interesting career trajectory culminating in her retirement in 2017. She traveled widely for her work assignments, and many times, Roy was able to accompany her, working in Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, and Texas. Toni and Roy both had a lifelong love of old houses, and in 2003, they acquired a second home (originally built in 1889-1904) in Hot Springs, SD, that needed a little work. Predictably, the "this old house" project is ongoing.

Roy is survived by his wife Toni Ristau; son Zachary Collins; daughter April Ball; sister Alice (Tommy) Rakes; sister-in-law Betty Ball; grandsons Scingon and Joaquin Collins and their mother Sonja Trujillo; two great-granddaughters; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents Myrl Wilbur Ball and Gladys Fay (Jones) Ball; sister Ann Marie Ball; and brothers Nelson Ball, Kenneth Ball, and Douglas Ball.

Per his request, Roy Ball will be interred at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he will join his parents and several of his siblings. There will be no service. Roy always said that he didn't want a funeral, he wanted a party. In lieu of a funeral at his death, a celebration of Roy's life is planned for springtime in Albuquerque in 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice honoring the memory of Roy Ball.