Phillip Ball passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on October 1st, 1939 to John Quincey and Gertrude Edwards Ball, Phillip had a passion for cooking and became the first graduate of A-B Tech Culinary School. An affluent and successful businessman, Phillip had an illustrious career as a chef and owner of several businesses including the Forest Manor Restaurant on Hendersonville Road, the Knife and Fork Restaurant on Tunnel Road, the Downtowner Restaurant on Patton Avenue, the Lion's Den Restaurant in Mars Hill, Granny's Restaurant in Marion, a bakery on Market Street, the Red Balloon Game Room in Mars Hill, a little store on State Street, Chicken to Go in the Biltmore Village, and the Superior Car Wash and Lube (the one with the giant gorilla) on Patton Avenue.

But, being a family man at heart, some of his greatest moments in life began when he married the love of his life, Fay Jacobs Ball, on December 21, 1963 and together they had two wonderful children - Kaylen and Daniel.

Phillip was also a member of the Army branch of the United States Armed Forces from June, 1959 to January, 1963. He was first stationed in Fort Lee, Virginia, but shortly after training, he was deployed to Korea and later served in the Cuban Missile Crisis as a military occupational parts specialist.

A member of Calvary Baptist Church, Phillip was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Elizabeth Large and Mildred Cruz; and four brothers, Joe Ball, John Quincy Ball, Jr., Beige (Bud) Ball, and James (Jim) Ball.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fay Jacobs Ball; daughter Kaylen Ball of Morristown, Tennessee; son Daniel Ball of Mars Hill, North Carolina; grandsons Brandon Banks, Tyler Banks, and Ethan Ball all of Asheville, North Carolina; granddaughter Georgina Amaya and her husband Rafael Amaya; great grandson Landon Banks of Asheville, North Carolina; sister-in-law Evelyn Jacobs Meade and brother-in-law Donald Meade of Jonesborough, Tennessee; brother-in-law Kenneth Jacobs and sister-in-law Mary Ann Jacobs of Butler, Tennessee; and several nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Calvary Baptist Church with the Reverend Glenn Graves officiating. Burial will follow at the Ball Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 until 1:00 prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be Ethan Ball, Brandon Banks, Gary Ball, Gordon Ball, Steve Metcalf, and Lee Meade.

The family would like to thank and express their gratitude for the care given by all of the professionals at the VA Medical Center including Hospice and the MICU. They made Phillip comfortable and took such great care of him.

They also want to thank the Calvary Baptist Church for their calls, visits, and the wonderful food that was so lovingly prepared.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.