Dorothy Pope

 Dorothy Elizabeth Ball was born on October 10, 1920, in Breckenridge, Texas and died on December 15, 2025, in Austin, Texas. She was 105 years old. Her parents were David and Gladys Martin Ball. She was the granddaughter of George and Mary Martin and Minnie and Colonel Tom Ball. Colonel Ball was chairman of the US House of Representatives Transportation Committee and is known as the Father of the Houston Ship Channel. Dot spent her first six months in Breckenridge and then moved with her parents to Houston where she lived with her parents and younger brother, David Ball, Jr.

 Dot graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston and The University of Texas with a B.S. degree in Home Economics. At The University, Dot was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, the Tennis Club, the Foo Society, and the Orange Jackets. In addition, Dot was a Bluebonnet Belle, was nominated for UT Sweetheart, was Queen of the Drake Relays and represented Houston in San Antonio's Fiesta and the Tyler Rose Festival.

 Dot married Captain Allen Townsend Winmill in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on July 11, 1942. Their daughter, Elizabeth Townsend Winmill was born on November 12, 1943, in Orlando, Florida. Towny was missing in action and presumed dead on October 10, 1944. Dot was briefly married to Robert Thomas Coleman, Jr., and their daughter, Susan Scarborough Coleman was born May 13, 1948, in a car in their driveway in Houston.

 Dot married John Brandon Pope on August 4,1951, and Dot, Elizabeth, and Susan along with their dog and cat moved to Abilene where John practiced law. Dot and John met at The University when Dot was an undergraduate and John was a law student. Dot became very involved in her church and the Abilene community. She taught fourth grade girls Sunday school at Church of the Heavenly Rest for 16 years. She also volunteered at the Church Thrift House, was president of the Women of the Church, and was a member of the Church's prayer group for many years. She was President of the Abilene Junior League, President of the Abilene Pi Beta Phi Alumnae, President of PEO Sisterhood Chapter CK, Vice President of Crockett Elementary School PTA, and Chairman of the Taylor County Child Welfare Board. Dot was a member of many organizations in the community including the Council on Alcoholism Board, the Abilene Library Board, the City of Abilene Health Board, and the Abilene Community Foundation. She was also a member of an investment club, a garden club, and volunteered with children at the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

 Dot was quite a competitor! She was a fierce tennis and ping pong player, and enjoyed playing with her tennis and ping pong partners, Virginia Wright and Peggy Beckham. Dot's favorite wintertime activity was playing ping pong with friends while a fire was blazing in the fireplace, the air conditioner was turned way down low, and a Judy Garland record was blaring! She loved playing card games and won most times beating her children, grandchildren, and great

grandchildren! She was playing solitaire on her phone past the age of one hundred!

 Dot loved working in her yard and adjoining lot in Abilene, and was happiest at her property on the North Fork of the Guadalupe River. She loved riding her riding lawnmower, planting Cypress trees along the banks of the Guadalupe River, sitting on the patio shelling pecans, and pulling weeds with her grandchildren!

 In her forties, Dot decided that she wanted to learn to paint, so she studied with private instructors and took several classes at McMurry University. She became a very accomplished painter, and her landscapes and still life paintings are cherished by those who are lucky enough to have them.

 As an alumnae of The University, Dot was president of the Liberal Arts Foundation, a lifetime member of the Ex-Students' Association, a lifetime member of the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council and a member of the Littlefield Society.

 Dot moved to Austin in 2004 to be close to her family. She was a member and treasurer of St. Anne's Guild at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, a member of PEO Sisterhood Chapter BQ, a member of UT Sage, and a member of the Austin Symphony. Dot learned in her early adult life to put on the Armor of God and "turn the page" as ways to lead her life which was very instrumental.

 Dot's strong belief in the importance of a good education led to her giving scholarships to the University of Texas School of Human Ecology, the University of Texas Law School, the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts, Yale Law School, and Harvard University.

 Dot was predeceased by her parents, brother, and husbands. She is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Winmill Thompson and Susan Coleman Buzbee, grandchildren Elizabeth Kua, Cecily Winmill, Allen Winmill, Jason Burdullis, Courtney Morehead, and Brandon Buzbee, 13 great grandchildren, 14 great great grandchildren, 3 nieces and a nephew.

 A celebration of Dot's life will be at The Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas on Saturday, December 20th, at 2:00 pm, with a reception at the Church immediately following the service.

 The family wishes to acknowledge the staff and caregivers of Belmont Village Westlake for the compassionate care which Dot received over the last 2 ½ years.

 In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to The Church of the Heavenly Rest of

Abilene, The Church of the Good Shepherd in Austin, or plant a tree in Dot's honor.

 Memories may be shared, and condolences submitted online at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com