Evelyn Smith Kidder
1925 – 2009
BRIDGTON — Evelyn Smith Kidder, 84 of Dixfield, died Oct. 27, at the Bridgton Health Care Center.
She was born in London, England, Oct. 12, 1925, to Alfred and Ethel Smith. On Aug. 27, 1944, she married the late Wallace “Bill” Kidder in Wimbleton, England.
She was among the first 20 military wives to take the two week boat journey across the Atlantic into New York City in October 1945 continuing by train to Dixfield, where she lived her remaining 64 years.
She is remembered as the travel agent servicing Rumford at McQuade Travel and later at East/West travel, allowing her to enjoy traveling the world. She was an avid cribbage player; she still won against her daughter on Oct. 24. She was everyone’s choice for a trivia partner and loved a good round of golf.
She is survived by her sister, Joan Kitchingman of Harlow, England; two sons, Paul Kidder and his wife, Deborah, of West Winfield, N.Y., and James Kidder and his companion, Laurie Xanthos, of North Bridgton; a daughter, Wendy Pleeter and her husband, Daniel, of Gilmanton, N.H.; she enjoyed four grandchildren, Kristen King and her husband, Clark and their two sons, Spencer and Garret of Erie, Pa., Kyle Kidder and his wife, Lindsay, of Utica, N.Y., Dustin Kidder of Denver, Colo., and Megan Pleeter of Gilmanton, N.H. She will be greatly missed by all.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Julie and Roy Steward of Dixfield for without their care and concern for Eve, she would not have been able to remain at her home as long as she did. Also a special thanks to the nurses and social worker at Bridgton Health Care.