Dorotha F. Knieriem, a former women's club president, died Wednesday of dementia at Fairhaven retirement community in Sykesville, where she moved 16 years ago. She was 88 and earlier had lived in Catonsville.

Born Dorotha Ford in Baltimore and raised on Payson Street, she was a 1932 graduate of Western High School. She worked briefly for the former Union Trust Co., and had been a member of Catonsville Presbyterian Church. Friends said she enjoyed singing in the Baltimore Choral Arts Society's annual programs.

She was president of the Woman's Club of Catonsville from 1953 to 1955.

Her husband of 41 years, Frederick M. Knieriem, a former Union Trust Co. senior vice president, died in 1980.

Services were held yesterday.

She is survived by two nephews and two nieces.