Ednah F. Howard, of Damariscotta, passed away Aug. 8 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta after a long illness, just 13 days shy of her 96th birthday. Ednah was born in Waldoboro on Aug. 21, 1915 to her parents Herbert H. Howard and Ruth Mank Howard.
She moved to Rockland as a child and graduated from Rockland High School in 1932 where she was a star basketball player. Ednah did post graduate studies at Waldoboro High School (1938) and then went onto Providence Bible Institute, now Barrington College, R.I. and graduated in 1938 preparing her life for Christian Work. This preparation carried her to serve several small parishes in the Waldo Larger Parish in Maine. She lived in Boston and worked at Tremont Temple as Executive Assistant to the Pastor for a number of years. She returned to Barrington College to get her Bachelors Degree (BA-Christian Education) and then on to Simmons College of Social Work where she received her Masters Degree in Social Work.
Ednah worked for the Salvation Army in Boston for several years and Waltham State Hospital while still being very active at Tremont Temple. From there she went to Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in New Hampshire as a Psychiatric Social Worker. She then moved to Augusta in the 80s and worked as a Social Worker at Togus Veterans Hospital for 10 years from where she retired.
Ednah was active in Penny Memorial Baptist Church in Augusta while living in the area, and one of her cherished events at Penny was the Christmas Pageant where she was part of the “Living Christmas Tree.”
After retiring she moved to North Waldoboro and was a very active member in the North Waldoboro Nazarene Church. She had a beautiful singing voice and would participate in the choir and sing alongs.
For over 25 years she was a sponsor for numerous children through World Vision Childcare Sponsorship for Third World Countries. She has sponsored over 30 children during her lifetime.
Ednah was predeceased by her mother and father; sister, Elsie K. Lawson; nephew, Robert H. Lawson; grandniece and nephew, Candace Dawson Blood and John (Jackie) Dawson Jr.; and precious Boston Terriers, Boots, Muffin, Oscar and Vicki, who brought so much joy and entertainment to her life.
She is survived by her sister, Shirley R. Swett and husband Orville of Little Sebago Lake, Gray; nieces and nephews, Gary O. Swett and wife Jackie of Sanford, Carol A. Burehill of Scarborough, Ruth S. Schofield of Portland, Esther Dawson, Lyndon (Bud) Lawson and wife Lynette of North Waldoboro and David Lawson and wife Barbara of Dedham; and grandnieces and grandnephews, Stephanie and Scott Love, Carl W. II and Ann Marie Burdin, Scott and Rebecca Burchill, Kendra Dawson, Angela Lawson, Jennifer Post and Shannon Moyes.
Graveside service 11 a.m., Tues., Aug. 30 at Comery Cemetery, Waldoboro, Rev. Mark Holden officiating.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing, donations may be made to ASPCA (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) L. Tramani, 520 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
You are invited to share you condolences, memories and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
