RUMFORD — Winifred “Winnie” Rudd Gilman, 92, of West Peru, passed away at the Rumford Community Home, Sunday, April 14, after a short illness.

She was born in Waterbury, Vt., March 19, 1921, the daughter of William and Freda (Hande) Rudd. After graduating from Waterbury High School, Winnie attended Bay Bath Institute in Springfield, Mass.

She married Kenneth Gilman in Waterbury, Vt., Aug. 24, 1946. They moved to West Peru in 1953. Although Winnie spent most of her life as a stay at home mom caring for her family, she did work for several years at the Maine National Bank in Dixfield.

In their younger years, Ken and Winnie enjoyed the winter months skiing with friends and family at Sunday River. Summers were often spent camping at Worthley Pond in Peru or Abbott’s Anchorage on Bryant Pond with occasional trips to Roach Pond in Kokajo.

Winnie was a member of the West Peru Mother’s Club, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, and the Order of Eastern Star in Dixfield.

After Ken retired, he and Winnie would take seasonal RV trips to Florida, with their dear friends Bob and Christine Eastman and Sherwood and Maggie Newton.

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Eventually, Ken and Winnie found summer havens at York and Wells beaches where they would spend the majority of their summers. Their greatest enjoyment during these summers was hosting family, especially their young grandchildren, and taking day trips with Tom and Polly Murphy.

Most of all, Winnie’s life centered around sharing times with her sons, their wives and particularly her grandchildren Lindsay, David and William.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth of West Peru; two sons and their families, Bob and his wife, Judy, of Westbrook, their children, Lindsay Roskelley and her husband, Jake, David and his fiancée, Christina Flannery and Gary and his wife, Patty, of West Peru and their son, William. She also maintained a very close relationship with her sister-in-law, Lorraine Gilman of Barre, Vt.; and the late Sam and Mary Ellen Parks of Waterbury, Conn.

Winnie was predeceased by her parents, William and Freda; and grandson, Jonathan.

Winnie will always be remembered by her family as a kind and caring mom and grandmother who held her family close to her heart and was extremely proud of all of their accomplishments.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Deluca, Rumford Community Home and Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for their care and compassion.

Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.


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