Stanhope, Mrs. Merle B Ball, 92, died on May 19, 2015 at the Hackettstown Community Hospital. She was born in Wharton and graduated from Wharton High School in 1941. She then lived in Succasunna for 50 years before moving to Stanhope 15 years ago. She began working at Picatinny Arsenal, and became the cafeteria cook and manger in the Roxbury Township schools for 43 years, and in the summer, worked at the Horseshoe lake Snack bar.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard Ball (of 47 years) in 1991, brother Henry Davenport and sister Eleanor Hesebeck. She is survived by her daughters; Carol (and Arthur) Forsythe of Charlotte, NC and Judy Ann Lella, with whom she lived in Stanhope, and two grandsons; Arty and Scott Forsythe.

 At her request, a private service was held at the Locus Hill Cemetery in Dover under the direction of the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com)