Dorothy May Green Bale

Dorothy May Green was born May 3, 1924 in New Castle, Colorado. She was the only child of Clarence Green and Sadie Reynolds Green. She grew up in Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, Colorado. Raised mostly by her loving grandmother, Dorothy learned how to work at an early age. She found opportunities to earn money by doing chores and running errands. Dorothy attended high school in Grand Junction, and graduated in 1942 from Garfield County High School in Glenwood Springs. In early 1943, she moved to Ogden, Utah and worked at the Ogden Arsenal in the War Bond Department. She returned to Glenwood Springs later that year.

Dorothy worked at the U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital in Glenwood Springs from January 1944 to February 1946. She met Dennis Bale, who was a corpsman at the Hospital from April 1945 to February 1946. The Hospital was closing after the war, so Dorothy moved to Salt Lake City for Valentine’s Day in 1946. She was hired right away by the V.A. Hospital and worked there through June 1948.

Dorothy and Dennis were married in his parents’ living room on September 10, 1947. Their daughter Susan was born in 1949. In September 1949, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Dennis attended dental school. Their daughter Denise was born in 1952.

The family settled in Salt Lake City in June 1953. Dennis practiced 35 years in Sugarhouse, and Dorothy worked 20 years with him in the office. Prior to working with Dennis, Dorothy was active in the Salt Lake District Dental Auxiliary, the Utah Dental Auxiliary, and the Salt Lake Council of Women. In addition to holding leadership positions in each organization, Dorothy was a star on the Dental Auxiliary’s bowling league.

Dorothy and Dennis loved their home and garden, spending time with their family and friends, and dancing to music of the Big Bands. They drove throughout the Western States during summers, and supported every interest and activity of their daughters. They bowled on the Goofballs bowling league at the Towne House Athletic Club for 30 years. One night, Dorothy bowled a 276 – with 9 strikes in a row! Dorothy and Dennis traveled with their bowling group to Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and Trinidad.

Following Dennis’ death in 1990, Dorothy traveled throughout the U.S. visiting her friends and relatives. Susan returned home in 1990, and lived with Dorothy until 2022. Dorothy and Susan supported local arts and fundraising events, and traveled to Paris, Rome, North Carolina, Florida, and California.

At age 70, Dorothy began a career with Arby’s. Dorothy worked in the restaurant by Olympus High School for almost 26 years. She was the little lady with a big smile at the front counter taking orders, giving hugs, and keeping the dining room spotless. She loved the high school students. Dorothy had her regular customers who came in just to see her. In 2014, Dorothy was invited to the Arby’s Worldwide Franchise Convention in Las Vegas to celebrate Arby’s 50th Anniversary and to meet its CEO, Paul Brown. At 94, Dorothy received an award for being the oldest employee of Arby’s. In January 2019, Dorothy celebrated 25 years with Arby’s. Her story and picture appeared in newspapers and websites all over the world, and she still appears in Google searches.

Dorothy loved gardening, painting rooms and fences, golfing, tying quilts, bicycling, bowling, cross country skiing, walking with friends, and the 24th of July Parade (www.deseret.com/2000/7/21/19519038/she-loves-a-parade).

Dorothy’s goal was to reach 100 years old and still be able to enjoy her birthday celebration. She did just that with family and friends on May 3, 2024. Dorothy’s legacy is her love for family, friends and all the people she met along the way.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Earl Bale, and daughter, Susan Lee Bale. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Bale; grandson, Dave Vega (Genevieve); great-grandchildren, Dante Vega and Sophie Vega, AZ; and her “daughter”, Susan Draney Baker, SLC.

At Dorothy’s request, she was buried next to her beloved Dennis without a funeral or service. The family suggests contributions to the University of Utah School of Dentistry (Advancement Office; P.O. Box 58006 Salt Lake City, Utah 84158) in memory of Dennis E. Bale, DDS and Dorothy G. Bale.