Dorothy A Wills

Dorothy A. Wills, 94, of Kingston, passed peacefully Sunday morning, November 15, 2015 at Ten Broeck Commons, Lake Katrine. She was born July 9, 1921 in Ridgewood, NY the daughter of the late Peter and Carrie Gennewein. She had attended church and school at the St. Aloysius RC Church in Ridgewood, NY.

She was the wife of the late E. Larry Wills, they wed on December 27th, 1941, he died on May 8th, 1974. During WW II she had worked at the Watervliet Arsenal in NY. Her story "Rosie Works in Arsenal While Waiting for the Love of Her Life" in one of the Rosie the Riveter books, titled, Rosie Romances and other Rosie the Riveter Stories. She was a Miss Subways New York Beauty Queen, and auditioned with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. She was a volunteer at St. Pancras in Glendale, NY and Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians Catholic School and Church (St. Mary's) in Winfield/Woodside, NY.

Dorothy was a parishioner of St. Peter's RC Church, Rosendale; she loved dancing, was an avid bowler, followed the New York Yankees, enjoyed trips to the beach, feeding the seagulls, and had a love for animals and spending time with her family.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Dorothy Raftery and her husband Thomas, Larry Wills and his wife Anna, and Carol Ann Laurito and her husband Fred, her grandchildren Jennifer Holmquist and her husband Kyle, Melinda Girnus and her husband Richard, Laurie Zampieron and her husband Paul, Lisa Marie Spencook and her husband Scott, Larry Wills III, and Keri-Ann Laurito, and several great grandchildren, her sister Carolyn Reis and her husband Michael and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Roger, Robert, and Arthur "Gene" Gennewein.

Entrusted to the care of the Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Avenue, Kingston. Services will be private at the discretion of the family.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Ulster County SPCA, 20 Wiedy Road, Kingston, NY 12401