Gwendolyn Farmer died quietly on April 2 at Springbrook Nursing Home in Westbrook after a long illness.
She was born on July 7, 1910 in Malden, Mass. to Ralph Pinkham Giles and Amelia Mirabel Remick Giles.
She moved to Boothbay in 1914 and grew up on the family farm at Back Narrows, where her father also owned a general store.
She was a member of the Boothbay Baptist Church from her youth until her marriage to Lawrence Farmer and a move to East Boothbay, where she became a member of the United Methodist Church. She was very active with youth groups, Sunday school and Methodist Women. In later years she returned to the Boothbay Baptist Church.
She was educated in Boothbay region schools and Farmington State Normal School and earned a BS in education at University of Maine.
She taught for 30 years. Locally she taught in East Boothbay, Southport, Boothbay Harbor, Newcastle and Wiscasset, earning the respect of students and parents alike for her dedication, ability, devotion to education and her love for the students. She also taught briefly in Biloxi, Miss. and Detroit, Mich. during WWII. In 1960 she was instrumental in establishing a school for the developmentally disabled in Boston. After returning, she continued to contribute as a tutor in Literacy Volunteers and as arts and crafts director at Camp Sunshine.
After retiring from teaching, she owned and operated Bay Realty in East Boothbay. She was a Realtor until her retirement at 71.
She was active in local politics and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention for several years. She filled her husband Lawrence’s term as selectman after his enlistment in the Navy during WWII.
She was a member of the Grange, Garden Club, Historical Society, and Monday Club and was a Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star.
She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence; brother, Edson; sister, Flora; and niece, Muriel Giles, whom she raised as her own.
She is survived by her son, Winthrop; granddaughters, Marcia Garnecky and Heather Farmer; and great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Lewis, Gaige Garnecky, Willow Garnecky and Raven Farmer.
Service 11 a.m., Sat., April 17 at the Boothbay Baptist Church.
