Who is Grandpa Ball from Belle Prater's Boy and what is their importance?

Grandpa Ball, Love and Belle's father, is a hard-of-hearing older man. It is Grandpa who tells Gypsy that her mother's obsession with her hair is a direct result of a promise she made to Amos. Grandpa thinks looks aren't important, but he does concede that looks are important in society. Grandpa also explains that Belle's departure was caused by the hurt inflicted upon her by Amos and Love.