Violet Rhoda Whittle, 101, passed away on Nov. 22 at The Lincoln Home in Newcastle.
She was born on Sept. 2, 1906 in London, England, the daughter of George Fredrick and Mary Rhoda Hollingdale Baker. In 1911, when Violet was about five years old, she, her parents, two sisters and brother immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Violet was the eldest child of the four.
She enjoyed gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and winter sports in Canada.
In Toronto, Violet met her future husband, Dennis Whittle, and they were married on April 4, 1929 in Troy, Ohio. They lived in Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York before settling in Demarest, N.J. in 1940. She was a co-owner, with her husband, of Hobart Agency in White Plains, N.Y., which she operated for many years.
She was active in Demarest Baptist Church, a member and Past Matron of the Eastern Star-Tenakill Chapter #235, Shriners, Daughter of the Nile and PTA.
During WWII, Violet enjoyed raising her quarter acre Victory Garden.
After spending many summers in Maine, they moved to a Waldoboro farm in 1985. She loved to garden and was active in Eastern Star. She took many officer positions when her daughter, Peggy, served as Worthy Matron. Violet was an active member of the North Nobleboro Baptist Church.
She enjoyed their many vacations to Antigua for several months each year.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dennis Whittle; granddaughter, Cheryl Laverty; great-granddaughter, Chrissy Ostad; and long-time companion, Raymond Flagg, Sr. of Jefferson.
Survivors include her daughters, Margaret “Peggy” Gaglione and husband Don of Jefferson, Geraldine Lehmann and husband Martin of New Jersey, and Edna Rogers and husband Joseph of Virginia; sister, Marjorie Parker of Canada; grandchildren, Celina Laverty of Jefferson, Donna DelRosso of New York, Sandra Molinaro of New Jersey, Deborah Wiseman of Virginia, Jill Kellison of Virginia, Douglas Lehmann of New Jersey, and Ralph Gaglione of New Jersey; great-grandchildren, Richelle Guilbualt of Jefferson, Jennifer Guilbualt of Augusta, Victoria Gaglione of New Jersey, Jessica Lehmann of New Jersey, Heather Lehmann of New Jersey, Stefanie DelRosso of New York, Allison Molinaro of New Jersey, Kristin Nickens of Virginia, Rachel Wiseman of Virginia, Donald Gaglione of New Jersey, Harlan McLain of Jefferson, Nicholas Gaglione of New Jersey, Dennis Gaglione of New Jersey, Michael DelRosso of New York, Christopher Kellison of Virginia, and Adam Kellison of Virginia; and great-great-grandchildren, Nicole Walters of Augusta, Skylar Walters of Augusta, Kylie Cray of Jefferson, Kole Cray of Jefferson, and Kaden Nickens of Virginia.
Celebration of Violet’s life Nov. 24 at Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro.
Memorial service 10 a.m., Fri., Nov. 30 at the George Washington Cemetery, 234 Paramus Rd., Paramus, N.J.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
