Rites Planned for Babe Ruth Daughter

Private services were planned for Dorothy Ruth Pirone, the daughter of baseball legend Babe Ruth.

Pirone, 68, died Thursday following a brief illness at her home, where she raised Arabian horses.

Pirone was born Feb. 2, 1921, in New York City, the daughter of George Herman (Babe) Ruth and Juanita Jennings Ellias, and lived in Durham for many years.

She devoted her life to her father’s memory, donating time and money to several groups and charities throughout the country.

Pirone also wrote a book about her father, “My Dad, The Babe. Growing Up With an American Hero.”

She leaves four daughters, Genevieve Herrlein of Warwick, N.Y.; Ellen Hourigan of Wallingford, Conn.; Donna Troccoli of Parker, Colo., and Linda Tosetti of Durham; a son, Richard Pirone of Meriden, Conn., and 12 grandchildren.