Dorothy Owsley Ballard, 93, of Hutchinson, Kan., died Aug. 22, 2010, at Hester Care Center, Hutchinson.

She was born Nov. 25, 1916, in North Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Charles Thistlethwaite and Carolyn Thompson Owsley.

She married V. Bryce Ballard, M.D., Feb. 3, 1940, in North Kansas City, Mo. He died March 4, 1998.

Raised in Kansas City, Dorothy was valedictorian of the Class of 1934 at North Kansas City High School. She met her future husband, Bryce Ballard, at the University of Kansas, where he was in pre-med and she was pursuing a degree in bacteriology. Dorothy graduated from the University of Kansas in 1939. Dorothy and Bryce moved to Johnson County, Kan., in 1949, when community services were urgently needed. Dorothy was instrumental in founding the Johnson County Library and served as president of Friends of the Library. In recognition of her public service and community activities, Dorothy was selected as "Mrs. Prairie Village." She was a leader for two Girl Scout troops and was a founding member and president of the Shawnee Mission League of Women Voters. In 1964, Dorothy was the first women elected to the three-person Prairie District School Board. She resigned from that board to serve on the first elected State Board of Education. Dorothy was involved in activities at the Village Presbyterian Church, where she served as president of the Women's Council and elder.

After Bryce's death, Dorothy took up residence at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson, Kan. In Hutchinson, she continued volunteering in the Towers, Hutchinson School District and the Kansas Cosmosphere. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hutchinson.

Survivors include: daughters, Barb and Greg Huwe, Minneapolis, Minn., Beth and Bill Southern, Hutchinson, Margie and Mark Bult, M.D., Rogersville, Mo.; grandchildren, Stefanie Solum & husband Peter Starenko, Williamstown, MA, Amanda & husband Steve Hotaling, St. Paul, MN,
Jason & wife Kristen Southern, Falls Church, VA, Bryce & wife Latasha Southern of Hutchinson, Caroline & husband Dan Walsh, Grapevine, TX, Brendan & wife Danna Arnold, Coppell, TX,
Elizabeth Arnold, Euless, TX, Joseph Aronld, Los Angeles, CA; great grandchildren, Charlie, Will & Louisa Starenko, Nina & Ike Southern, Brock Southern, Brendan & Aidan Walsh, Jackson Summers; sister, Carolyn Thome, Citrus Heights, CA.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Coleman, and a brother, Charles Robert Owsley.

Memorial service will be Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Amy Dame officiating. A private family inurnment will be held prior to the service in the church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to: Wesley Towers Scholarship Fund or First Presbyterian Church.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave condolences for Dorothy's family.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Wesley Towers for their loving support.

To our friends and family, we wish to express deep gratitude for your love and concern for Dorothy and for us as we journeyed together through this season of our lives. Sharing joys and sorrows with you, has given us comfort.