Rosella May (Balls) Hoch passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at the Ellsworth Medical Center in Ellsworth, Kansas at the age of 95. She was born on October 27, 1923 to the late George and Clara (McIntosh) Balls. Rosella grew up in the Hays, Kansas area and graduated from Hays High School in 1941. She then went straight to work for the Bell Telephone Company where she worked as a switchboard operator. Rosella met the love of her life, Ernest Hoch, at the Walker Air Base during a USO dance in 1945. They were united in marriage on October 21, 1947 and were blessed with two children: Robert and Steve.

Rosella and Ernest moved to Wilson, Kansas in 1947 where she was a stay at home wife and mother and helped her husband run Hoch Lumber Company until 1990. Rosella stayed busy with various clubs such as Mother’s Club, card clubs, and being a Cub Scout Leader. She also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary for over 60 years and was a member of the Episcopal Church in Hays.

Rosella liked to be outdoors and loved her flower and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed canning, quilting, and sewing. Rosella was very proud of her children and grandchildren, and loved to speak on their successes. She was vivacious, very sure of herself, and stubborn, as she lived out her years independently in her own home up to the last few weeks she was with us.

Rosella is survived by her son Robert Hoch and wife Shirley of Austin, TX; five grandchildren, Garett Hoch, Dave Hoch and wife Kristin, Dr. Heather Hoch and husband Chris, Christopher Hoch and wife Christina, and Anthony Hoch; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents George and Clara Balls; her beloved husband Ernest Hoch; son Steve Hoch; and brothers, George Jr., James, and Frederick Balls.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2019 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Burial will follow in the Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday, April 18, 2019, from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, and Friday before the service from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Auxiliary or the Wilson Senior Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, P.O. Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.