Bangor Daily News (ME)
March 27, 2003Well-known author and local philanthropist Dorothy Clarke Wilson died Wednesday morning at the age of 98.
Wilson wrote about 25 books, including "Doc Pritham" and "Lincoln's Mother," but it was her 1949 novel "Prince of Egypt" that brought her large-scale recognition. A fictional account of Moses, the leader who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, the novel sold more than 500,000 copies in paperback and the motion picture rights were purchased by Paramount Pictures Corp.
The book was later used as a source for Cecil B. Demille's 1956 film, "The Ten Commandments."
Starting with her time at Bates College in the 1920s, the Gardiner native focused on social activism and pacifism in her poems, plays, novels and lectures. During her senior year, Wilson's extensive research garnered her a $50 prize for her essay "Arbitration Instead of War."
Wilson wrote more than 70 plays, many of which examined religious topics. In 1949, she was recognized as having more plays in production than any other playwright in the world.
As Wilson's attorney for a number of years, Orono resident Ted Curtis described her as a "no-nonsense lady," who had a high level of social concern, particularly for the plight of Palestinian refugees.
"She was very concerned about the problems of the downtrodden of the world," Curtis said.
Wilson's concern for her fellow people has benefited Orono's religious community for a half-century. In the late 1950s, she and her late husband, Rev. Elwin Wilson, used prize money from "The Prince of Egypt" to purchase a home on the edge of the University of Maine campus, where the couple started an ecumenical ministry in their basement for students.
Dorothy Clarke Wilson later became a major benefactor of the Wilson Center, the off-campus Protestant student center named after her husband.
The writer also took a special interest in the Vellore Christian Medical College and Hospital in India.
Wilson visited the college and wrote four biographies about doctors of the college, including its female founder and a paraplegic doctor of physical medicine. Dr. Robert Carman, a former doctor and teacher at the college, said Wilson's work brought a good deal of recognition to the school and was used as study books by a number of denominations.
"It was a major promotion for the work going on at the college," Carman said Wednesday from his home in Bloomington, Ind. "It put Vellore on the missions map for many years."
Peace activism also held a special place in Wilson's heart, most recently in her work with the Orono Peace Group. Member Stan Musgrave said Wilson gave sound advice and shared concerns of man's humanity and inhumanity.
"She was a loyal contributor and always had good suggestions about dealing with problems or people," Musgrave said. "She was one of the greatest."
Each year, her legacy is honored with peace prizes that bear her name. One is awarded to an Orono High School student and another to a UM student.
Find-a-GraveBrother of Lester Ham who resided in Sanford, Maine.
Lewis served as a Private First Class, 534th Ordnance Maintenance Company, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in York County, Maine prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on May 5, 1942 in Portland, Maine. He was noted as being employed in a public service occupation and also as Divorced, without dependents.
Lewis died in the "Line Of Duty" of a non-battle related incident during the war.
Service # 31115907
65660. Kermit Daniel Willis Grover
U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Kermit D Grover
Birth Year: 1914
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Maine
State of Residence: Maine
County or City: Oxford
Enlistment Date: 13 Nov 1940
Enlistment State:Maine
Enlistment City: Portland
Branch: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 3 years of college
Civil Occupation: Farm hands, general farms
Marital Status: Divorced, without dependents
Height: 72
Weight: 177
Portland Press Herald (ME)
February 11, 1995Agnes M. Grant Gammon, 81, of Newbury, formerly of Limington, Maine, died Jan. 28 at Country Manor Nursing Home after a long illness.
She was born in Springvale, Maine, daughter of Irving E. and Elva Ham Grant, and attended elementary and high school there.
For many years, Mrs. Gammon worked in shoe shops in the Springvale area. She was a 50-year member of Limington Grange, where she had held several offices.
She was a friend of Elwell Gammon of Limington.
Her husband, Lowell Gammon, died previously.
Surviving are a daughter, Alice Grover of Standish, Maine; two stepdaughters, Isabell Rankin of Hiram, Maine, and Rebecca Gammon of Limington; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a step-granddaughter.
Portland Press Herald (ME)
January 21, 2004As a young girl, Marjorie Scott attended the Salvation Army Church in Sanford with her mother. At the services, there was singing, Gospel-based preaching and personal affirmations. The experience left a lifelong impression on Mrs. Scott, a retired Salvation Army brigadier who died on Monday at the age of 84.
At a young age, Mrs. Scott felt a calling to dedicate her life to God and the people served by the Salvation Army. She entered the Salvation Army school for officer's training and became an officer, otherwise known as a pastor, in 1938.
In 1946 in Portland, she married William Hartman, a captain in the Salvation Army. For 45 years, they served as corps officers throughout southern Maine. For about 10 years, they served in Bangor.
"She was fulfilling God's plan for her life and working for a cause she believed in," said her daughter, Deborah Hartman of Wausau, Wis. "It was her sense of purpose. She believed in the principles of the Salvation Army and followed them to the end."
As a mother of four children and an officer, Mrs. Scott balanced her days between taking care of her children and the people she served. Every night there was something - a prayer meeting or a youth group activity. Mrs. Scott also served as a social welfare representative for the corps. During the holiday season, she was committed to raising money for the kettle campaign.
Hartman said she made a huge impact in the lives of many people to whom she ministered throughout northern New England. One young person she ministered will speak at her funeral. Hartman said her mother also made an impact on her.
"She taught me that a life of service can be the most fulfilling life," Hartman said. "She had a desire and a calling to bring people to a religious experience. It was simply an urgent calling, as the Salvation Army would say, 'to win souls for the Lord.' "
Mrs. Scott retired in 1983. Like so many other Salvation Army officers, she and her husband moved to Old Orchard Beach, where there is a large network of support. Her husband died in 1986. Mrs. Scott married James Scott in 1991. He died in 2003.
Mrs. Scott was a member of the Old Orchard Beach Salvation Army corps and had a strong interest in the history of the Salvation Army camp meetings in Old Orchard Beach. The first camp meeting was held in 1885. The pine grove on Union Street, the railway station and the beach were used for worship.
"They knelt in the sands to pray, their boots almost lapped by the sea," Mrs. Scott wrote in a 1985 article in The War Cry, the Salvation Army magazine. "The antics of the Salvationists were regarded with amusement by the summer visitors."
In 1987, Mrs. Scott graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in history. She wrote the history of the camp meetings, which was published by the Salvation Army.
Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME)
June 10, 2005WEST PARIS -- Elmira W. Doyen, 92, formerly of Albany, died in West Paris on Saturday, June 4, 2005.
She was born in Bethel on Nov. 3, 1912, the daughter of Wesley and Constance (Grover) Wheeler, and was educated in Bethel schools, graduating from Gould Academy in 1929, Farmington Normal School in 1931 and Gorham State Teachers College in 1957.
She taught school for 30 years, having taught in Bethel, North Kennebunkport, Wells and South Portland. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, National Education Association and Maine Teachers Association.
Elmira married Jessie H. Doyen on Oct. 21, 1931; he died March 15, 1985.
She is survived by two daughters, Constance Hindman of Bethel and Mrs. Marjorie Awalt and her husband, Hugh, of Augusta; one sister, Mrs. Alfreda York and her husband, Marsters, of Vermont; four grandchildren; two foster grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Local newspaperTemple - March 6 - Funeral services for Mrs. Grace M. Dalyrmple, 61, wife of Harild Dalrymple, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Adams Fiuneral Home, Farmington. Mrs. Dalrymple died suddenly Wednesday in Franklin County Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
She was born in Manchester, N.H. June 28, 1885, the daughter5 of Daniel and Flora Leavitt Robinson. Besides her husband she is survived by a son, Paul; three brothers, John Robinson of West Ebbing, N.H., George Robinson, North Conway, N.H., and William Robinson, Portsmouth N.H.
Portland Press Herald (ME)
June 17, 2000Ethel Leona Capen Ward, 96, died June 15, 2000, at Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris.
She was born here, a daughter of Susan and Charles Capen, and attended elementary schools in Bethel and graduated from Gould Academy in 1922. She attended college in Ithaca, N.Y., for a year, then graduated from Farmington State Teachers College in 1961, completing her degree through correspondence courses and summer sessions.
She taught in the Bethel schools for more than 30 years.
She married Willis W. Ward of Conway, N.H., on Nov. 26, 1927. He died May 27, 1977.
Mrs. Ward was a member of the Bethel Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women and the fish and game associations. For many years she was also a member of the Home Extension.
She took many trips with the senior citizens on the Main Line Tours buses and also made a trip to Hawaii. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, gardening and quilting. She started quilting in 1973 and had since made 13 hand-sewn quilts plus many machine made ones and gave many to her grandchildren. She also did hand work year-round for the Friday Gift Shop, kept open all summer by the United Methodist Women of Bethel.
A grandson, Michael, died in 1987.
Surviving are two daughters, Mary Lurvey of Standish and Joan Howe of Bethel; seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Find-a-GraveGailey [Wheeler] was born the daughter of Clyde and Florence (Parker) Brooks. Gailey passed on at her residence.
Gailey was educated in Bethel schools, graduating from Gould Academy in 1953.
She was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church, where she had served as choir director and was involved with the church suppers for many years.
She had worked for most of her life at Hanover Dowell Wood Products, where she developed many lifelong friends.
She is survived by four devoted daughters, Mitzi L. Scott and her husband, Robert, of Peru, Roxy McLeod and her husband, Dennis, of Albany, Angela McLean and her husband, Russell, of Bethel, and Shannon Friel and her companion, Mark Hindman, of Bethel; a son-in-law, Patrick Friel of Dixfield; two sisters, Kathleen Hanscom and her husband, Rodney, and Delores Williams and her companion, Louie DeleVallee, all of Bethel; 15 grandchildren, Ryan, Josh, K.B., Denny, Missy, Sean, Megan, Pam, Shawna, Travis, Seth, Brian, Angie, Karen and Gary; seven great grandchildren, Eric, Shia, Adreanna, Morgan, Alli, Mckenzie and Ben.
She was predeceased by her husband, Lynwood A. Wheeler; a grandson, Michael McLean; son-in-law Scott Robson; brothers, Kenneth Brooks, Bob Brooks and Maurice Brooks; a sister, Violet Chretien; and her parents.