Jean Palmer Walbridge

Jean Palmer
Walbridge, 98
THE VILLAGES, FLA. -- Jean Palmer Walbridge of The Villages, Fla. and Hodgdon Island, Boothbay, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Florida on Feb. 7, 2012.
She was the daughter of the late Albert R. and Florence (Decker) Palmer and spent her childhood in Madison, N.J. and on Monhegan Island, in the cottage her parents built on Horn Hill in 1907.
Jean graduated from Kent Place School, Summit, N.J., and Smith College, class of 1935. She met her husband, Kenneth Merrell Walbridge, when both were teachers at the Bement School, Deerfield, Mass. They were married in June 1940 and spent their honeymoon, and several subsequent summers, on Monhegan Island.
The Walbridges moved to Hodgdon Island year round in 1948 when Kenneth and his brother changed careers and started their own business, Walbridge Bros. Plumbing & Heating. Early on, Jean was a substitute teacher in the Barter's Island and Boothbay Center Schools, and an active member of the Lincoln County Republican Committee. She was an avid gardener, and spent many happy hours working in her flower gardens. She loved living in Boothbay and was a quiet supporter of many organizations in the community.
In 1969, the Walbridges retired to live in Florida during the winter, returning to Boothbay every summer until 2009. During that time, they traveled extensively in the United States and Europe, often planning their trips to coincide with jazz festivals. Enthusiastic and accomplished boaters, they had many adventures cruising the coast of Maine under sail and power.
Jean had a clever wit and a great sense of fun. She was a strict grammarian and a voracious reader. When her eyesight began to fail, she was delighted to discover audiobooks. She will be long remembered for her sense of humor, her creativity and imagination, her concern for bats, and her love of family and friends.
Jean was predeceased by her brother Robert Palmer and her grandson Alexander Walbridge. She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 72 years, Kenneth Merrell Walbridge; her three children, Susan Palmer Davies, The Villages, Fla., Sara Walbridge, South Portland, and Hoyt Walbridge and partner Stephanie Bacon, Cape Elizabeth; five grandchildren, Spencer Bailey (wife Kathleen) New Bern, N.C., Julie Davies Gaete (husband Andres) of Cherry Hill, N.J., Theodore Moore (fiancee Sharon Rogerson) Bethlehem, Conn., Alexis Moore O'Connolly (husband Alexander) Essen, Germany, Nicholas Walbridge, Bryn Mawr, Penn.; and five great-grandchildren
A celebration of her life will be held next summer in Boothbay. In lieu of flowers, those who
wish may make a donation
in Jean's memory to:
The Monhegan Associates;
St. Andrews Church, Newcastle; International Bat Foundation, Inc., or the charity of their choice.
Jean Palmer
Walbridge