DIXFIELD – Annie Spaulding, 80, of 14 Kidder Ave., Dixfield, died early Sunday morning, July 24, at her home

Born July 25, 1924, in Rumford, the daughter of George W. and Bernice F. Brown, she was a graduate of the Dixfield High School, Class of 1942.

She worked at Diamond Match during World War II. She married her high school sweetheart, Albert W. Spaulding, on Nov. 5, 1945 at the Methodist parsonage in Rumford, while he was serving with the U.S. Army. They raised their family on Kidder Avenue in Dixfield, next door to where she grew up.

She was the catcher on the Dixfield High School softball team that went to the nationals in Ohio in 1938, when she was in the eighth grade! Active in many organizations during her life, she was a Girl Scout leader of Troop 329 for eight years. She was chairwoman of the Telstar Association and director of the Telstar day camp.

She was a softball official while her children were growing up. She was a member of the Dixfield Historical Society, Federation of Mineral and Gem Association, Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association (secretary), Water Oak Gem and Mineral Society, Dixfield Alumni Association, Dixfield School Forum (secretary), Maine Archeological Society, Dixfield Nature Club, Dixfield Economic Development Council and Dixfield Congregational Church Social Club.

She always enjoyed watching her children as they participated in sports and other school activities. As they grew up, she frequently attended events at Dirigo High School, cheering for all of the athletes. Annie and Albert enjoyed traveling with family members and visiting Rosalie while she taught in Germany. They visited Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Austria and Germany. They often wintered in California and Utah.

For the last six years, she was a dialysis patient, having been wonderfully cared for by the staff at the Umbagog Dialysis Center in Wilton. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, and her love of her family, friends and cats. Countless family members, neighbors and students of Dixfield Elementary School were the recipients of her hand-knit, four-needle mittens.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Albert W. Spaulding; their six children and spouses, Rosalie Spaulding of St. George, Utah, Pamela and Wayne Newton of Jay, Alan Spaulding of Silver Spring, Md., Forrest Spaulding of Dixfield, Scott and Joanne Spaulding, and Laurie and Neil Marquis of Rumford; grandchildren, spouses and great-grandchildren, Warren and Leslie Newton-Samantha, Justin, Danielle and Hannah, Aaron Newton and Alexis, Ian Marquis, Audrey Marquis, James Spaulding, Kane Csoty, Ashlee Csoty, Nicholas Spaulding, Adam Spaulding and Eric Vallentino; and sisters, Marie Bernard and Connie Tutlis of Mexico, and Eileen Gallant and her husband, Francis, of Bangor.

She was predeceased by her parents; five siblings, Eleanor and Alfreda Brown, George Brown, Phyllis Dwinal and Staples Brown; and a son-in-law, Joseph Maierhofer.

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