Gladys Stilphen

Gladys Stilphen, 86, of Sanford, Maine passed away on Tuesday November 22, 2005 at the Varney Crossing Nursing Home in North Berwick, Maine. She was born in Sanford on May 11, 1919 a daughter of Harry and Louisa (Gomersal_) Howgate. She attended local schools and graduated from Sanford High School Class of 1937.Gladys worked in Mose Goodwin's drug Store, and at the Sanford Mills office. She married her high school sweetheart, Norris Stilphen on April 7 1942 in front of the fireplace in Rev. Mitchell's office at the Unitarian Church where she taught Sunday School. They then moved to Virginia where they were stationed for part of the War. She was a homemaker who made most of her families clothing, and produced many decorative quilts. She involved herself in the P.T.A. and Historical Society, the Reserve Officers Organization, and various church activities in Ipswich, MA, and Deerfield, ILL, She worked ten years for State Farm Insurance as an analyst.Gladys retired to Sanford and enjoyed many summers at Square Pond with her family. She helped to organize many Sanford high School reunions for the class of 1937. When her husband became ill, she successfully cared for him and herself as long as she could.She is predeceased by one brother, John Howgate.She was dearly loved by her family and will be missed by her husband of 63 years, Norris, her three daughters and their husbands, Nancy (Bill)Deans of Rochester, NY, Elizabeth (Tom) Yancey of College Station, Texas, and Patricia (Mark) Hill of Rochester, NY, one brother, John Howgate and his wife, Muriel of Springvale, Maine, four grandsons, three grand daughters, and two nephews, Nathan and Barry Howgate.A time of visitation with the family will be at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home 580 Main Street in Springvale on Saturday December 3 from 2pm until 2:30pm at which time a celebration of her life will take place with Rev. Susan Kingman of the Sanford Unitarian-Universalist Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks each person to either dedicate a day to helping a caretaker, or spend a day with and elderly family member. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Sanford Unitarian-Universalist Church Lebanon Street, Sanford, Maine 04073.