LINCOLNVILLE — Carol Gardner lived a long purposeful life, having many friends, interest, and accomplishments. We remember her lively enthusiasm, positivity, and light-hearted humor as well as artistic talent and great love of historical research.

She died peacefully at home with her daughter by her side.

Her parents were John and Edna Young. Carol had two sisters, Eloise and Marjorie, all growing up in Maplewood, NJ. Carol graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood and attended one year of college at Principia in Elsah, Illinois.

In her youth, she worked at the Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, later becoming a member of the First Church, Christ Scientist in Camden, Maine, serving as librarian for many years.

As a young woman summering in Maine, she met her future husband, Richard Gardner of Boston. He was an avid sailor, radio operator, and machinist by trade. They married in 1942, shortly before Dick was called to active duty overseas. Carol contributed to the war effort, working at Bell Telephone Laboratories near Summit, NJ.

After WWII, the couple returned to sparkling Penobscot Bay to raise their only daughter, Christine, in Camden, Maine.

Eventually they found an old seaside cottage in Lincolnville where they could pursue their interests. Carol, an accomplished painter, exhibited and sold many paintings at the Wiscasset Gallery from the 1950s to 1970s.

Dick was able to develop his own marine hardware business. Many happy years have followed, living by the sea, being in and around boats!

Carol was a member of the DAR – Penobscot Expedition Chapter 1-034ME, the Stockton Springs Historical Society, the Mayflower Society, and the Jonathan Fisher House.

Her daughter would like to thank the following individuals and organizations involved in her health care in later years: Dr. Steven Wilson, Dr. Deborah Peabody, Katie, Wilson, Joanna Whiting, Camden Area District
Nursing, Director Judy Lydon and staff, Shirlee Hurd, and the Beacon Hospice Team, including Emily Barnum.

Carol is survived by her only daughter, Christine G. Aston, and her husband Donald Aston; nephews, George Schelling of Orland, ME, and John Schelling of Orinda, CA; nieces, Ellen Rehmann of Bowie, MD, Laurie
Lotz of Haymarket, VA, Carol Meinhart of Rockville, MD, Judy Moore of Searsport, ME; plus five grand-nieces and four grand-nephews.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held Tuesday, July 23, at 2 p.m., at the Stockton Springs Community Church, 20 Church Street, Stockton Springs. Interment will follow in Mount Prospect Cemetery.

The Rev. John Tabor will officiate. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or story with Carol’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.