Donna Lucille Shaw Ambler

Donna Lucille Shaw Ambler, 85, of Sanford, died on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at Greenwood Center in Sanford after a brief illness.Donna was born in Westbrook on July 21, 1927, the only child of John Hayes and Dorris Allen Shaw. She grew up in Windham and was educated in a one-room school house in Windham center from the first to the seventh grade. She went on to attend Windham High School where she graduated with the class of 1945. She graduated cum laude with the Nasson College class of 1949, receiving her bachelor's degree in secretarial science.Donna was employed part-time for New England Telephone and Telegraph during her high school and college years and she taught commercial subjects at Union High School in Union, Maine from 1949 to 1951. On September 2, 1951 Donna married A. Blaine Ambler and together they raised five daughters and spent the next 43 years together until his death on February 4, 1995. While Blaine was serving in the U.S. Navy, Donna worked as a secretary to a Lieutenant Commander at Yards and Docks Supply Office in Port Hueneme, California from 1952 to 1953. She was employed as a clerk at the Springvale Public Library from 1988 until 1998 and then continued to work there as a volunteer until September of 2011.Donna enjoyed her independence and maintained her own home until just a few short months ago when she became ill. In her earlier years she participated in bowling leagues in Winthrop and Sanford. She enjoyed watching most sports on television, especially the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, tennis and golf. She was a member of the Springvale First Baptist Church and the American Baptist Women's Ministries. Donna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She cherished the time that she spent with her family. She always enjoyed watching with pride as her children and then grandchildren participated in different sporting events. Donna touched many lives in her 85 years. She will be remembered as a kind and loving woman with a wonderful sense of humor, and will be dearly missed by her friends and family. Surviving are five daughters, Diane A. Rodgers and her husband Harry E. of Springvale, Marianne Voci and her husband Joseph of North Conway, New Hampshire, Suzanne Ambler of South Portland, Joanne Sullivan and her husband Dan of Cape Elizabeth and Anne Ambler-Cote and her husband Stephen of Sanford; 12 grandchildren, Christopher, Ryan and his wife, Sarah Jane, Matthew, Jenna, Emma, Joe-Joe, Morgan, Lauren, Conner, Carson, Curtis, and Kayla and one great-granddaughter, Lydia.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 4th at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home located at 580 Main Street in Springvale. Interment will take place in the spring at Riverside Cemetery in Springvale.Family flowers only please. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Springvale Public Library, 443 Main Street, Springvale, Maine 04083, the Windham Historical Society, P.O. Box 1475, Windham, Maine 04062 or the Springvale First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 277, Springvale, Maine 04083.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.