FARMINGTON – Frances Julia (Ring) Hotelling, 88, of East Wilton, died at Sandy River Nursing Care Center, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease, on Oct. 8.

She was born Aug. 25, 1918, the daughter of Fred C. and Ophelia (Robinson) Ring. She attended Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich., graduating in the Class of 1939. She later attended and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 1970, with a master’s degree in education. Her thesis was about Elizabeth Ogilvie, a favorite Maine novelist. She collaborated with her husband, Robert, who illustrated her thesis with photographs taken at Elizabeth Ogilvie’s home in Cushing. In 1977, she continued her education at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, N.M.

She married the late Robert D. Hotelling, July 27, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was an English teacher, first at Cony High School in Augusta and then at Waterville High School, and retired in 1981. She enjoyed reading, listening to classical music and attending concerts, nature study, hiking, canoeing and gourmet cooking.

She was a founding member of the Kennebec Valley Hospice Association, an active member of the Maine State Museum, the Wilton Historical Society, the Arts Institute of Western Maine, the Book Club, the Audubon Society, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Fort Western in Augusta, the Nature Conservancy, the Appalachian Trail Club and was on the Democratic county, state and national committees.

She expressed her love of literature, music and the great outdoors in many ways. Camping trips to Baxter State Park provided countless hours for reading and relaxation, hiking and bird, wild flower and fern identification.

She and Robert went on canal boat trips in England, experiencing living history first hand by traveling the incredible canal transportation network. She shared Robert’s love of architecture and old churches and many of their trips to England focused on trips to historic churches.

She is survived by one daughter, Amy LeBlanc, and her husband, Michael, of East Wilton; two grandchildren, Andy LeBlanc, and his wife, Amy, of Canaan and Mara, and her husband, Steve Hodgkin, of Farmington; six great-grandchildren, Silas Brown, Jasper Hodgkin, Aaron LeBlanc, Abby LeBlanc, Zion Hodgkin and Temple Miller-Hodgkin; one sister, Andrece Rogers, and her husband, William Jr., of Mesa, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert in May 2001; and both her parents.