LANGLEY - Dale Ball, a leader of the Langley business community is being mourned after losing his "brief battle" with cancer.
Ball was the owner of Brookswood Homes, a past citizen of the year, businessperson of the year, past chair of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, a Rotarian, chair of the Brookswood Village Merchants Association, a leader in the provincial and Canadian manufactured housing associations and all-around community volunteer. He diedTuesday, March 10. His passing has shocked many.The chamber and merchants association posted the news of his death on Facebook with many local residents using the forum to offer condolences.The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce said it "extends our deepest condolences to Dale's wife Mary, their sons, and entire family.""I knew Dale my entire life, my thoughts are with his wife, Mary, his sons, Anthony and Jason," Melissa Marie posted on Facebook.Fellow community volunteer Tim Lounsbury said, "RIP my dear, dear friend. You will be deeply missed."Langley Township Coun. Charlie Fox wrote: "He will be missed," while fellow Coun. Bob Long added, "So very, very sad. It was an honour and pleasure and a lot of fun to have known Dale and served with him over the years. He will be missed by many."Catherine Anderson said, "A Grande Man - deeply missed, condolences to all the family. RIP."Former Township councillor and B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayer Federation Jordan Bateman said: "Very sad to hear this news. Prayers with Dale's family and countless friends," while another former councillor, Howie Vickberg, wrote: "So very sad to hear... a really good guy gone too soon! Condolences to his family."In 2006, when Ball was crowned businessperson of the year, he was acknowledged not only for his work in the family businesses, but for helping out numerous organizations including the Langley boys fastball, scouts, the Langley Centennial Museum, his Rotary Club and the Langley Lodge.He happily donated time, energy, and resources to charitable and business efforts, telling the Langley Advance at the time that he didn't mind."I enjoy them all," he said. "I don't do things unless I enjoy them."Life is too short to do things you don't like, Ball had said, convinced it was that attitude that won him the special acknowledgement.The service will be held at the Christian Life Assembly, 21277 56th Ave., at 2 p.m. on March 30. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to these groups:. Langley Centennial Museum. Rotary Foundation. Langley School District Foundation. Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation. BC Children's Hospital. Langley Care Foundation (Langley Lodge)