A Memorial Service for Gloria L. Witham “Glo”, 95, who passed away peacefully on Friday, January 29, 2021, at her home in Rockland, will be held Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 1:30 p.m., at the People’s United Methodist Church, 13 Chapel St. South Thomaston, with the Rev Michelle Wiley officiating.

To share a memory or condolence with Gloria’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. Rockland.

ROCKLAND — Gloria Lorraine Witham, “Glo”, 95, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 29, 2021, in the very home she was born and raised in, here in Rockland.

Born January 9, 1926 at the Witham Homestead in Rockland, to Nathan Leroy and Blanche Evelyn (Allen) Witham. She was educated in Rockland schools and graduated with honors from Rockland High School class of
1944.

Following high school, she attended Boston University’s Sargent College of Physical Education, graduating in 1948. In 1955 she went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Maine at Orono.

Miss Witham’s first teaching experience was at Bain Junior High School in Cranston, Rhode Island, followed by some time at Lewiston High School. In 1952, she moved to Morse High School, where she taught Physical Education until 1970. At that point, she moved to the guidance department, where she worked until 1976, when she took a leave of absence to care for her mother, which ultimately led to her retirement from education.

Miss Witham had a great love of the outdoors and spent many happy hours at her Blanate Camp in Burlington, joined by her friend Germaine Bonney. While there, they enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing and skiing. They also spent many summers lobstering off of the Witham family island, Large Green Island, in Penobscot Bay.

Miss Witham also had a great love for her family and friends, including her many Cocker Spaniel dogs. She was a devoted and active member of People’s United Methodist Church in South Thomaston, the church where her brother, the Rev. Cecil L. Witham, was minister during the summer of 1934. She was also a member of the Maine Retired Teachers’ Association.

In her later years, Gloria had many visitors from the nearby younger generations, including Troy Witham (with Large Green Island lobsters in tow), Sean Fogarty when walking his dog(s) or being called upon by Glo to fix one remote control or another, Kim Stone, Alicia Stumpf, Stephanie Fogarty, Danielle Griffin, and Corey Fogarty, Christie Fogarty, Lyndsay Fogarty, and Karen Rackliff.

Predeceased by her parents, Blanche and Nathan Witham, her brother Rev. Cecil L. Witham, her sisters Dorothy Witham Rackliff and Grace Ruth Witham Fogarty, her nephews Allen Fogarty and Robert Witham, and grand-nephew Jacob Witham; she is survived by her nieces, Evelyn Rackliff Smyth and her husband Peter, Wendy Witham Wilkerson, Madolin Fogarty, her nephews, Nathan (Fraulke) Witham, Barry Witham, Arthur Rackliff Jr. and his wife Nancy, David Rackliff and his wife Tammy, Daniel Fogarty III, and Kerry Fogarty and his wife Jackie, along with many other grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Gloria’s life will be held when Covid-19 restrictions are eased and will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the People’s United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 83, South Thomaston, ME, 04858.

To share a memory or condolence with Gloria’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.