WESTBROOK — Geraldine “Geri” Ames Bandlow, 89, of Springvale died Saturday, April 22, at Avita of Stroudwater in Westbrook.

Geraldine, “Deenie,” as her family called her, was born in Flagstaff on Oct. 27, 1927, to Hazen Ames and Hilda Wing Ames. She was raised in Flagstaff and was salutatorian of her high school class in 1945. While in school, she loved playing basketball and was the star player for most of those years.

She later went to business college in Portland, then worked at Central Maine Power. After a couple of years, Geraldine and her sister moved to New York City, where she worked for McCrory Corp. There she met the love of her life, Richard C. Bandlow. Geraldine has said that he was the nicest, kindest man she had ever met. She introduced him to the activities of the mountains, streams and woods of the state of Maine. The couple married on July 30, 1950, in Eustis and spent the next 61 years together. They both enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, hiking and later in life, golfing.

When Richard was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve as sergeant during the Korean War, Geraldine lived in New York City with his sisters and mother and worked at Creedmoor Hospital. While working there, she entered and won a beauty contest.

After his return, they moved to Maine, the state they both loved, to start their family, eventually raising two daughters. They designed and built their dream home on Hanson Ridge, Springvale. When her children were school aged, Geraldine worked at Sanford Junior High School as a secretary. She enjoyed the interactions with the students and worked there until she retired.

After retiring, Geraldine and a close friend drove across the country, taking an entire summer to go coast to coast. She often reflected on the places she had seen and adventures that they had.

While raising her family, she continued to enjoy all the state has to offer, such as planning annual camping and skiing trips with friends and family. Holidays were a special time, with her cooking being the highlight for everyone. Geraldine wanted folks to be well-fed and have a lot of laughs. She will be remembered as a fun-loving and active, athletic woman.

Geraldine was predeceased by her husband, Richard C. Bandlow; her mother, Hilda Wing Ames; her father, Hazen Ames; her sister, Beulah “Bea” Davis Skilling; and two brothers, Richard Ames and Robert Ames.

Surviving are her daughters, Kathy A. Bandlow of Scarborough, Donna Bandlow Church and her husband, Edward H. Church, of Lancaster, N.H., and their son, Patrick E. Church of Big Bear City, Calif.; three nephews, Terry A. Davis and his wife, Katharine, of Scarborough, and their three children, Kristen Davis of Washington, D.C., Erik Joncas and wife, Jamie, of South Portland, and Craig Joncas of Portland, Alan R. Davis of Bradenton, Fla. and Richard Stravino, his wife, Teresa, and their two children, Nicholas and Marissa, all of E. Northport, N.Y.; and one niece, Sharon Donahue of Provo, Utah.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the excellent staff of Avita of Stroudwater for the care and compassion shown to Geraldine during her stay there.

Online condolences can be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com.

 Geraldine A. Bandlow

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