Charlotte Hodgman, 85, a resident of Wiscasset for over 40 years, passed away Sept. 25. She was born Oct. 14, 1923 in Lowell, Mass., a daughter of Jefferson Roberts Mansfield, Sr. and Alice Wilmott Mansfield.
Mrs. Hodgman made her home at the historic Custom House on Water Street. Arriving in Wiscasset in 1965, she purchased the building at auction. As a federal building it had earlier served many purposes, including housing the local Post Office. Her renovation of the building as a residence and her place of business was admired for its sensitivity and demonstrated her talent for putting art in the service of everyday living.
With her husband, Crosby G. Hodgman of Wiscasset, she founded and ran the gift shop New Cargoes at the Old Custom House. The two also founded the adjacent Le Garage Restaurant, which is still owned and operated by her daughter, Cheryl Rust.
A lifelong artist, Mrs. Hodgman was a commissioned portrait painter. Additionally she exhibited her still life and landscape paintings at the Maine Art Gallery and Bowdoin College and taught art at the American School of Paris, France.
A graduated of Mt. Holyoke College, Mrs. Hodgman later studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School, at the Academic Grand Chaumiere in Paris and the LeoMurchutz School of Painting and Drawing in Aix-en-Provence. She served as a Red Cross Health Aide during WWII. In 1945 she married Lieutenant, Army Air Corps, William L. Rust of Huntingdon, Tenn., after which the couple made their home in Lowell, Mass. She later worked in the color labs at Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, Mass. and at the Bigelow Laboratory of Boothbay Harbor.
She was predeceased by her husband, Crosby G. Hodgman; and by her brother, Jefferson Roberts Mansfield, Jr. of Chelmsford, Mass.
She is survived by her sister, Jean Wilmott Mansfield of Chelmsford, Mass.; daughters, Cheryl Lee Rust of Wiscasset, and Amba Lee Rust Coltman and son-in-law, Robert Coltman of Chelmsford, Mass.; and stepson, Christopher H. Hodgman, MD of Rochester, N.Y.
Private committal service is to be held at a future date in Lowell, Mass.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be made online at www.daiglefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 40 Federal St., Wiscasset.
