Melba Louise “Babe” Dorsett, 99, died on May 26, 2017.

She was born on April 19, 1918 in Bridgeport, Wash. to the late Fred and Eva Poole. She never met a stranger because she enjoyed meeting people and making new friends. She loved the outdoors and working in her flower gardens accompanied by her cats. She was a golfer and played well into her 80s. She was a devoted “Gammy” and loved taking care of her grandchildren who liked to say, “Gammy is the coolest grandmother ever.” She was active at Bethany United Church of Christ where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was also president of the Ladies Guild and sang in the choir. She enjoyed her garden club, volunteering at the library, and was a docent at Old Salem for 15 years. She was seamstress and made needlepoint for friends and family. As a young woman, she was an athlete, playing basketball and baseball in high school. She played Industrial League basketball for Chatham Manufacturing in Elkin. She was selected by Philip Wrigley to play in the women’s baseball league during World War II. Not only was she a terrific athlete, she was valedictorian of her class and was elected May Queen twice.

She was also in death by her husband of 60 years, H. Lindsay Dorsett, daughter Karyn Eve Dorsett, grandson Jeff Koontz, and sisters Marjorie Kerley and Mildred Dixon.

Survivors: her son, Harrison Lindsay “Skip” Dorsett Jr., daughter Lynne Koontz and husband Dr. Thomas Koontz; granddaughter Jennifer Berg and husband Don Berg; and great-grandchildren Charlie and Annabelle Berg.

There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24 at Bethany United Church of Christ to celebrate her life.

Memorials: Bethany United Church of Christ, 1066 Bethany Church Rd., Winston-Salem, 27107.