Edith Helen (Burgess) Bell, 92, died Dec. 22 in Williamsburg, Va. after a long and brave battle with vascular dementia and heart disease.
Edith was born on May 7, 1926, to John and Julia (Calderwood) Burgess and was raised on the family’s poultry farm in Waldoboro. Her youth activities included Girl Scouts, 4-H, Juvenile Grange, the school band, and church school at the Waldoboro United Methodist Church. After graduating from Waldoboro High School in 1943, she entered Gorham Normal School, graduating from Gorham State Teachers College (now University of Southern Maine) in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. In 1965, she received a Master of Education degree from Gorham State Teachers College, and in 1971, she received a Master of Library Sciences degree from the University of Maine.
Edith married Fred Albion Bell, of Westbrook, at the Old German Lutheran Church in Waldoboro in 1947. They settled in Windham, where they bought a poultry farm, renovated the 1832 farmhouse and raised their two daughters, Joy and Johnna.
In Windham, Edith taught sixth grade and gave private piano lessons. After taking a few years away from teaching to start a family, in 1956 she began teaching at Westbrook Junior High School. She served there for 30 years, becoming the librarian in 1960 and, in the 1980s, designing the media center in the new school building and becoming the media specialist. To celebrate her retirement from teaching in 1986, she took to the air in a hot-air balloon, proclaiming it the most peaceful ride of her life. She was a lifetime member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, a professional honors society of key women in education.
Edith and Fred joined the Windham Hill United Church of Christ in 1947, where Edith served as organist for 22 years and as summer organist for another 33 years. She taught in the church school for many years and served as its superintendent. She also sang in the choir, and in 1977, she organized the hand bell choir. She was a member of the Pastoral Relations Committee and served as chair of the Growth Team and president of the Women’s Fellowship. For many years, she represented the church in the Women of Maine Conference (United Church of Christ).
In addition to her church activities, Edith was involved in service to the community. She was a Girl Scout leader for 39 years and recipient of the Order of the Silver Trefoil, director of Cardinal Troop Girl Scout Camp for 27 years, and a trustee of Windham Public Library. In 1996, as a member of the Windham Historical Society, she authored “Images of America – Windham,” a photographic history of the town.
In 2009, to be closer to her family, Edith moved to Williamsburg, Va., where she attended the Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
Edith was an avid gardener and a lover of music, reading, knitting, and ice cream. She was also a fiercely competitive Scrabble player. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; younger daughter, Johnna Bell; brother, Arthur Burgess; and sister, Ruth (Burgess) Hatch.
She is survived by daughter, Joy Mair and husband Kenneth of Williamsburg, Va.; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Rd., Windham, ME 04062; or the charity of your choice.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., Jan. 12 at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, followed by a gathering in Fellowship Hall.
Burial will be in Mayberry Cemetery, Windham, in the spring.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dolby Funeral Chapel, Windham.
