Ellen Beverly Williams Ball, 90, died Monday, Feb. 24, at Bethany House in Auburn. The long-time Auburn resident was born in Opelika on July 15, 1923. She was the daughter of Louise Frederick Williams and Robert Woodward Williams. Mrs. Ball was the widow of John Cooper Ball, Jr., who died on Nov. 27, 2003, whom she cared for faithfully during the last years of his life. They were married Dec. 26, 1942, while Mr. Ball was serving as an officer in the Army. She was the mother of John Robert Ball of Asheville, N.C.; Barbara Ball (Steve Newman), of Nashville, Tenn.; Mary Ellen Ball Klinner (Johnny), of Auburn; and Ellen Beverly Ball, who died in 1953. Her grandchildren are Kristen Ball (Rik Cropley) of Richmond, Va.; Robert Ball (Tara Billingsley) of Washington, D.C.; Ben Newman, of New York City; Amy Klinner Bridge (Gareth), of Memphis, Tenn.; Allyson Klinner, and Alex Klinner of Auburn. She was the great-grandmother of Meredith and Kate Cropley and Caroline Ball. She is also survived by her sister Toni Rutledge, of Wetumpka, Ala., and predeceased by her sister Barbara McGee, of Eutaw, Ala. Mrs. Ball worked as a legal secretary, a bookkeeper, and as an administrator at Fredericks Funeral Home in Opelika, which was founded by her grandfather. And always, whether she had another job or not, she typed term papers, theses, dissertations, and book manuscripts for generations of Auburn students and professors. She worked to exacting standards, and was called by one professor "the finest typist in the state of Alabama and probably the entire South." For at least one of her children, the sound of a typewriter during the night became a lullaby. She was a political activist, and hated to see a wrong unrighted. She believed in the power of the written word, and used it often, expressing her opinions through letters to the editor. Mrs. Ball was an avid player of bridge and dominoes, especially while living in Azalea Place for the last five years. She was a feisty woman, a loving mother, and a dear friend. Mrs. Ball was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, and was honored as a Life Member of the Auburn Womans Club. Special appreciation is given to her caregivers Carolyn Owens, Shirley Lewis, and Rebecca Philpot, and to the staff at Bethany House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany House, 1171 Gatewood Drive, Auburn, Alabama, 36830. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 AM in the Narthex of the Founders Chapel.