Winifred Katherine Medcalf, 87, of Damariscotta, died Aug. 3 at Cove’s Edge nursing home.
Winifred Katherine (Timian) Medcalf was born on Jan. 3, 1924 at home in Saint Louis Park, Minn. to her parents, Earnest and Lillian, and older brothers, Harold and Clayton. She went to school in a two-room schoolhouse in her early grades and eventually graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1941. She was her class vice president and voted the friendliest in her class. She went to St. Cloud State University for a year with hopes of studying to be a teacher. During that year the United States entered WWII and with her brothers going off to war, she decided to stay home with her parents.
In June of 1942, Winnie met a handsome young man, Harvey Medcalf, who had enlisted into the Marine Air Corps and they began their long distance relationship. They were married on Jan. 18, 1944 when she was 20 years old and lived in California where he was stationed. When he was sent overseas, she returned home to live with her parents and worked in an office. After the war, they settled in Mound, Minn. and began their family of eight children. They lived in suburban Minnetonka, Minn. for over 20 years and then moved out to Waverly, Minn. where they had a 106-acre hobby farm for 17 years. Winnie had a large flower garden, birdfeeders, apple trees and a vegetable garden. In the late summer and early fall, Harvey and Winnie would be canning, freezing vegetables, and making jellies and pies. She loved cooking and baking and having her growing family over for weekends and holidays.
She was an avid fan of the Minnesota sports teams, especially the Twins. Winnie loved talking about politics and followed world events. She had a great sense of humor and always made people feel comfortable. After Harvey retired, the two of them loved to travel and were able to do many trips together. She had children in many states around the country and loved to visit them and see her grandchildren.
Winnie always had a lot of friends and was active in whatever church she belonged to. She was a student of the Word of God and taught several women Bible studies over the years. She also taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. Later in life, she and Harvey led a couple’s Bible study in their home. Her husband died in 1999 and she spent several years living in the last home she shared with Harvey.
In 2002, she moved to Virginia and lived with her son Dana for two years. The last seven years she lived near her daughter, Kerrith, in Damariscotta. She loved Faith Baptist Church in Newcastle, and was active in their women’s Bible study. Winnie enjoyed having her family visit her at her home in Damariscotta. As her health declined and she was unable to live alone, she moved to Cove’s Edge nursing home where she lived for the last 10 months.
Winifred is survived by her brother, Clayton Timian and wife Phyillis; sons, Brian Medcalf and wife Darlene and Dr. Dana Medcalf and wife Ruth, Lane Medcalf and wife Judy, Philip Medcalf and Carson Medcalf; daughters, Terann Carr and husband Lester, Ginger Gray and husband Gary and Kerrith Stapp and husband David; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Service Aug. 8 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest with her husband at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Persecution Project Foundation, PO Box 1327, Culpeper, VA 22701-6327 or Food for the Hungry, 1224 East Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85034-1102.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
