Obituaries from the week of 03/26/09

Bob spent his entire career in education and coaching. In 1960, he began working at Bridgton Academy as a teacher, football and basketball coach, and Director of Development and Public Relations. During his first tenure at Bridgton, he compiled a 23-15- 1 record on the football field. From 1969-1974 he was the Headmaster of the Ransom School in Coconut Grove, Fla. In 1974, Bob returned to Bridgton Academy as the 44th Headmaster, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. During his seventeen years as Headmaster, Bob’s leadership ushered in an era of improvement and growth. Enrollment at the Academy grew by 60 per cent, and the College Articulation Program was instituted, allowing students to earn college credit through the successful completion of Bridgton courses. Under Bob’s leadership, numerous capital improvements were made to the Bridgton campus including the construction of Goldsmith Dining Hall, Stevens Library, and the completion of two new dormitories: Jillson and Walker Hall. In 2004, Bob was the first headmaster inducted into the Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions. Above all else, Bob had an amazing impact on the students he worked with. To this day, alumni recall the vision, kindness, and lessons instilled in them by Mr. Walker. A legend among the Bridgton Academy community, Bob’s influence will last far longer than his twenty-two years as teacher and headmaster.

Along with his work as a school administrator, Bob was an accomplished and respected football coach and authored four books on strategy and coaching, one of which remains the largest selling football text ever. In addition, he was a past president of the Maine Association of Independent schools, and was a member of the Commission on Independent Schools and New England Association of Schools & Colleges. He was an avid jazz fan, and enjoyed playing jazz organ and listening to music.

Bob was predeceased by his first wife of 45 years, Elaine Pitts, a member of the Bridgton Academy Class of 1941, and his second wife Susie Voth. He is survived by his four children, four step-children, 11 grandchildren, 9 great-grand children and his sister, JoAnn Walker of Miami Lakes, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Bob may be made to the Robert E. Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bridgton Academy, PO Box 292, North Bridgton, ME 04057. Services will be held later this spring at Bridgton Academy.

Born Feb. 26, 1932, in Bridgton, she was the beloved daughter of the late William R. and Ada V. (Crocker) Knight. She attended Bridgton schools and graduated from Bridgton High School. She was a member of the Bridgton Methodist Church. She has lived in Citrus County, Fla. for the past 16 years. She was a lifelong horsewoman and loved all animals. She was an accomplished musician, playing violin, piano and organ since childhood. She will be sorely missed by her family and a host of friends, many of which she has known since childhood.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Charles Conrad, Sr.

She is survived by her son, Charles Conrad, Jr. of Naples, Fla.; her daughter, Lacey DiFilippo of Pine Ridge, Fla.; and a brother, Alfred Knight in Maine.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at Fero Funeral Home. Arrangements by Fero Funeral Home, 5955 N. Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills, Fla. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Citrus County, P.O. Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464.

She was born in South Portland on March 24, 1926, the daughter of Lawrence C. and Mathilda E. Willig Jones. Helen was a 1943 graduate of South Portland High School and Shaw Business College in Portland. At the time of her retirement in 1990, Helen had worked as an accounting supervisor and a 46-year employee of U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Company. Helen enjoyed skiing and was the second woman to be appointed a National Ski Patrol Woman in the State of Maine. Helen also enjoyed saltwater boating. During her working years, Helen held several offices in the Insurance Women of Southern Maine. She was also active in the National Secretaries Association and the International Association of Soroptimists. Helen was also a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church.

Surviving are a brother, James C. Jones of Casco; a sister, Nathalia M. Powell of Nashua, N.H.; a nephew, a niece; and grandnephews.

She was predeceased by a brother Philip I. Jones.

Visiting hours were held last Friday at Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick. A memorial Mass was held Saturday at St. Charles Borromeo Church, McKeen St., Brunswick with the Rev. Stephen Concannon officiating. Spring interment will be in Bailey Island Cemetery.

Memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome. com. Memorial donations may be made to: St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

She was born in South Portland on March 24, 1926, the daughter of Lawrence C. and Mathilda E. Willig Jones. Helen was a 1943 graduate of South Portland High School and Shaw Business College in Portland. At the time of her retirement in 1990, Helen had worked as an accounting supervisor and a 46-year employee of U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Company. Helen enjoyed skiing and was the second woman to be appointed a National Ski Patrol Woman in the State of Maine. Helen also enjoyed saltwater boating. During her working years, Helen held several offices in the Insurance Women of Southern Maine. She was also active in the National Secretaries Association and the International Association of Soroptimists. Helen was also a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church.

Surviving are a brother, James C. Jones of Casco; a sister, Nathalia M. Powell of Nashua, N.H.; a nephew, a niece; and grandnephews.

She was predeceased by a brother Philip I. Jones.

Visiting hours were held last Friday at Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick. A memorial Mass was held Saturday at St. Charles Borromeo Church, McKeen St., Brunswick with the Rev. Stephen Concannon officiating. Spring interment will be in Bailey Island Cemetery.

Memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome. com. Memorial donations may be made to: St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

He was born on June 12, 1922 in Bridgton, the son of George E. Sr. and Marjorie E. (Edgerly) Chadbourne. He graduated from Bridgton Academy and the University of Maine. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was a mechanical engineer for the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He received the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster. He retired from WPAFB in 1977 as an aeronautical engineer.

George is survived by his wife of 57 years, LaVonne (Kieffer) Chadbourne; children, Robert E. Chadbourne, Debra A. Chadbourne and Kathleen S. Riley; four grandchildren; sisters, Betty VanEtten of Illinois, Dorothy Flora and Mary Getz of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Richard; infant sister, Agnes; and a special cousin, Julia Austin, who was raised by his parents.

A memorial service was held Friday, March 13 at the Trostel, Chapman, Dunbar & Fraley Funeral Home in New Carlisle, Ohio. Burial followed in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.trostelchapman.com

She was born on Independence Day, 1931 in West Newton, Mass., the daughter of Charles and Mary Marshall. She married and moved to Center Lovell in 1950. Her first years in Maine were spent adjusting to country life, learning to fish, hunt, and can vegetables. In 1963, she was appointed Postmaster of Center Lovell and throughout her career served as Postmaster in several Maine towns including Sanford. Peg loved music and had a beautiful singing voice. She was always ready for a trip to Foxwoods or to challenge her family to a game of mini golf, horseshoes or bowling which she usually won. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW and served as Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star.

Survivors include her four children, Andrea McMillan of Palm Springs, Calif., Sharon Zielfelder of Barrington, N.H., John Evans of Shapleigh, and Scott Evans of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two brothers, Robert Marshall of Sherborn, Mass. and George Marshall of Fairhaven, Mass.; her beloved nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her seven siblings, Wilfred, Clifford, James, Ernest, Marian, Evelyn and Elsie.

Memorial contributions may be made in Peg’s name to United Way of the Greater Seacoast, Pease International Tradeport, 112 Corporate Drive, Unit 3, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or unitedway@uwgs.org

A memorial service was held on Sunday, March 15 at the Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road, Lee, N.H. with Rev Scott Littlefield of Barrington Congregational Church, officiating. To sign the online guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com

Previously, she had been living independently with her family while courageously fighting cancer.

Lela was born in Caribou, one of seven children of Sybil and Charles Parker. She married Donald Pelkey of St. Francis, and had four children. Moving to the Gorham area in 1956, she was the bookkeeper for her husband’s service station, and, later, his body shop business. She was active in the School Street Methodist Church, where she helped in the Sunday School. Lela and Donald were married 56 years when he passed away, and she continued to live in Gorham until 2003, when she moved to Bridgton to live with her daughter and son-in-law. While in Bridgton, Lela became involved in the Bridgton United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, making many close friends in the process.

Lela is survived by her brother, Floyd Parker of Caribou; her children, Hollis Pelletier of Woodstock, Conn., Donna Conners of Cape Cod, Mass., Gary Pelkey of Raymond, and Deanna Woodward of Bridgton; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at the Bridgton United Methodist Church, Main Street, Bridgton on Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m., with interment to be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in her name to the Bridgton United Methodist Church, PO Box 207, Bridgton, ME 04009.

Arrangements by Raymond-Wentworth Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton. Online condolences for the family may be left at www. andrewsgreenleaf.com

She lived in Falmouth for most of her adult life until moving to assisted living in the early 2000. She lived her final years at Riverside at Chase Point to be closer to her son and was always cheerful in spite of being afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

She was predeceased by two husbands, Lt. John G. Shelley, Jr. USN (Ret.) in 1972 and Dr. Richard E. Carpenter in 1994. She is survived by her sons, John Shelley and his wife Josée of Owls Head, William Shelley and his wife Bergliot Forster of Bridgton and Buford, Georgia; three grandsons, Johnny and Alden, both of Owls Head, John-Thomas (JT) and his wife Jessica of Decatur, Georgia.

A more comprehensive story of her life will follow prior to a private memorial service and burial in Falmouth later in the spring.

Donations may be made in her memory to the wonderful Alzheimer’s Unit where she resided happily until her final days, Riverside at Chase Point, Miles Memorial Hospital, 51 Schooner Street, Damariscotta, Maine 04543.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. To sign Mrs. Carpenters online guest book, please visit www.bchfh.com

She was born in South Paris, April 23, 1923, the daughter of Ellsworth and Annie (Witham) Murch. Bertha was a member of the Red Hat Society and her hobbies included crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed working at the Early Learning Center in Auburn. She especially enjoyed her friends at Clover and playing bingo.

Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Norwood of Minot; one brother, James Murch of Waterford; three granddaughters; two grandsons; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

At Bertha’s request, there will be no services. Burial will be private at Gracelawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations in Bertha’s memory may be made to the Sam & Jennie Bennett Breast Center, c/o CMMC, Main St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers. com. Arrangements by Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lewiston.

She was born in Portland, the daughter of Alan and Anna Curit Dennison. She was employed at Bri’s Variety for many years and most recently at the Hannaford Store in Bridgton. Nancy completed her G.E.D. in 1989, something she was very proud of. She enjoyed cooking, knitting, and horseback riding. Her passions were motorcycle riding and hunting. She also enjoyed spending time at camp and with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Carroll Hodgdon of Casco; a son Clinton Robbins of Buxton; a daughter Nancy Hayes of Poland Springs; two stepsons, Larry Robbins of Richmond, Va., and Jim Cameron of Conway, N.H.; a stepdaughter Jennifer Carter of Waterford; three brothers, Donald Dennison of South Portland, Dwayne Dennison of South Portland and Alan Dennison of Long Island; two sisters, Claudia Lawler of Albany, N.H., and Sally Hoffman of Oxford, N.Y.; and her many grandchildren who will miss her dearly.

At Bertha’s request, there will be no services. Burial will be private at Gracelawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations in Bertha’s memory may be made to the Sam & Jennie Bennett Breast Center, c/o CMMC, Main St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers. com. Arrangements by Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lewiston.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church Street, Westbrook. Interment will be in Brooklawn Memorial Park at a later date.

“Oh, to climb a mountain, feel the wind on my face. To see the world from up on high, the sun’s warmth I would embrace. Oh, to ski down a mountain, the snow under my feet, To fly like a bird, so graceful and so sleek. I want to go outside and see my old friends and family, To walk, hike, ski and canoe, I want to be free. Now that I am old and gray, I cannot go outside and play. But someday soon, I pray, The Lord God will take me away. When I am gone, don’t cry for me, as I will kiss you daily, With the touch of a snowflake on your cheek, or with the rain under your feet, And when the seasons change and the colors change too, With a wind that is cool I will kiss you. So go outside and play for me, Outside you and we will always be, TOGETHER!”

There will be a celebration of his life Saturday, April 18, 2009, from 12 – 3 p.m., at Shawnee Peak Base Lodge, Bridgton. In lieu of flowers Fern would rather you touch someone’s life on his behalf. Arrangements are made with Wood Funeral Home, Fryeburg, Maine.