PORTLAND – Esther W. Aiken, 82, of Eastman Avenue, died Wednesday, May 4.

She was born Feb. 10, 1923, in Rumford, the only child of Carl C. and Luna Sweetsir Watson.

She graduated from Stephens High School in 1941, then attended Farmington Normal School from 1941 through 1943. After her children were older, she continued taking courses and earned her teaching degree during the 1970s, and taught in Rumford area schools.

Mrs. Aiken served in the U.S. Army WAC during World War II. She worked as an occupational therapist in Memphis, where she met and rehabilitated her future husband, George J. Aiken. He predeceased her in 1987.

Throughout her later years, she devoted most of her time to her pet boys, Murphy and Donovan.

She is survived by two sons, Fred E. and his wife, Rosanna Aiken, of South Portland, and Paul J. and his wife, Judith, of Portland; three grandchildren, Christopher and his wife, Pam Aiken, of Oak Creek, Wis., Melissa Aiken of Milwaukee, Wis., and Matthew and his wife, Kristin Aiken, of Gorham; and two great-grandchildren, Mary Ann and Abigail Aiken of Oak Creek, Wis.

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