Elinor Spurr Forbes, 95, of Newcastle, formerly of Rockland, passed away peacefully Jan. 21 at her residence, The Lincoln Home, with her loving family by her side.
Born in Boothbay, Aug. 17, 1913, she was the daughter of Vernon Hendry and Edna Hardwick Spurr. She attended a one-room elementary school in Boothbay and was a 1932 graduate of Boothbay Harbor High School.
She immediately started secretarial work in the Boothbay Harbor Town Office and in 1936 was elected Tax Collector.
On Oct. 9, 1937 she married William Maxfield Forbes Jr. A 50th wedding anniversary celebration was held in 1987.
Elinor was always active in the communities where she resided. She was a Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mt. Pisgah Chapter, a member of the Rockland Congregational Church, taught church school and led an MYF group at the Methodist Church while living in Waldoboro. She was a Girl Scout leader, hospital volunteer and member of Hospital Auxiliaries in the communities where she lived.
Eleanor was a beautiful seamstress, and she also knit hundreds of pairs of mittens each year for school children, the Area Interfaith Outreach, church fairs and family.
Mrs. Forbes was predeceased by her husband July 8, 2003.
She is survived by her daughter, Claire Belyea and husband Barry of Waldoboro; son, William M. Forbes and wife Linda of Augusta; nine grandchildren, Robin Forbes, Rebecca Foster and husband J.T. all of Augusta, William Forbes and wife Barbara of Tennessee, Andrew Forbes and wife Elizabeth of Cumberland, Melinda Genthner and husband Philip of Friendship, Leslie Parent and husband Patrick of Warren, Erica Crosby of Waldoboro, Lynsey Ward and husband Jeff of Nobleboro, and Jessica Sproul and husband Paul of Waldoboro; and 17 great-grandchildren, Thomas and Kathryn Foster, Megan, Lauren, Max, Alexander, Madeline and Eleanor Forbes, Philip and Steven Genthner, Kayla Parent, Noah Crosby, Madeline and Joshua Ward, Devon, and Richard and Arianna Sproul.
Funeral service 2 p.m., Sun., Jan. 25 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. The Rev. Dr. Russell Miller will officiate. Spring interment will be in Ocean View Cemetery, Boothbay. A reception will follow at the funeral home’s 104 Limerock reception facility.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pine Tree Society, P.O. Box 518, Bath, ME 04530 or the Rockland Congregational Church, P.O. Box 554, Rockland, ME 04841.
Arrangements are entrusted to Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.
