1921 – 3015

BOONE, N.C. —Arline D. Verkruysse, 94, died Monday, Oct. 19, at Watauga Medical Center in Boone, N.C.

She was born on Feb. 25, 1921, in Winslow. Arline was the only child of Bert and Marion Totman Dyer.

Most of her early years were spent in Oakland, where she graduated from Williams High School in 1938. Arline studied ornithology at Cornell University and was an active member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For many years, she was an active bander of birds and identified and banded several thousand birds during her career.

She was employed as an executive secretary at Diamond Match Co. in Oakland; Northeast Industries in Calais; and later, at Carey’s Oil Co. in Rumford. Arline then retired from Stone and Cooper Oil Co. in Augusta, in 1985.

An active member of the Universalist Church of Rumford, she taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir.

Her many hobbies included handcrafting dozens of quilts, many of which won blue ribbons at state fairs and quilt shows. For 22 years, she volunteered at the Gardiner Public Library and served as the resident historian and genealogist.

Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, James and Candace Israelson of Deep Gap, N.C., with whom she spent the last eight years. She leaves three grandchildren, Crystal Bishop of Saco, Rachel Brown of Carthage, and Jessica Prue of Poland; and five great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia, in 1997; and both of her husbands, Julian P. Israelson of Rumford, and Emile D. Verkruysse of Gardiner.

She will be sorely missed by her many friends and relatives who always enjoyed her humor, wit and company.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.