Dorothy Ball

West Copake.On January 19, 2015, the Lord called Dorothy Ball (88) to come home from the Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center. Dorothy was the oldest of four daughters born to Clinton and Bessie Bainer. She grew up on her parents' dairy farm, and loved farming so much that she was the first female in her school to be a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club. In the senior yearbook, her nickname was "Farmer." Early in 1944, she met Harry Ball, the DHIA milk tester who came to her parents' farm. Later that year, just before the start of her senior year, she received her license as a milk tester. In December 1946, a month after Harry came home from serving in the Army in Okinawa, they were married, and together had four children. Wanting to help her children and other neighborhood children, Dorothy started a 4-H club called the West Copake Lassies, which she led up into the '70's when her last child graduated from high school. She enjoyed being a judge at 4-H events such as demonstration day and the County Fair - not only for Columbia County, but for surrounding counties as well.

Dorothy was a very active member of the West Copake Reformed Church which she started attending at the age of 10. She loved singing in the choir, being a part of the Women's Guild, serving as a deacon, and being involved in other church activities. In addition to Church and 4-H, Dorothy was an avid bowler, participating in leagues throughout the year.

In 2004, at the age of 78, Dorothy retired from being a milk tester - after 60 years of service. In 2009 she fell at home, fracturing her back, and from then on resided at the Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center. Although confined to a wheelchair, the residents and staff always saw her with a smile and a cheerful attitude.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Harry (1982), her son Harry, Jr. (1990) and one sister, Geraldine Morrison. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Ellen Ziegler (N. Versailles, PA), Patricia Ball (Ankeny, IA) and Cynthia (Harry) Smith (Chatham, NY), nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, two sisters Kathy (Paul Kuhn) Bainer and Ann (Don) McLaughlin, and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Route 22, Copake Falls, NY. The funeral will be held on Saturday January 24 at 10 am at the West Copake Reformed Church, with interment following at the Copake Cemetery. Memorial Donations can be made in memory of Dorothy to the West Copake Reformed Church, and Community Awareness Initiative (a non-profit Christian disaster relief organization, www.cai-network.org) P.O. Box 197, Ankeny, Iowa 50021. To send online condolences please visit www.peckandpeck.net

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